Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors (MLCCs) are increasingly being demanded for emerging PEMD applications, where high-voltage and high-temperature demands can only be met by MLCCs. These emerging, demanding applications are predicted to drive shipments in the years ahead. Currently there are no ceramic-based solutions that can achieve this as any such part would be too expensive, composed of banks of capacitors. This demand is exasperated by the current global shortage of MLCCs and significant challenges associated with extracting necessary raw materials such as Palladium(Pd) and Nickel(Ni).

Within these emerging applications, Electric Vehicle (EV) power electronics systems are a critical market. Greater vehicle electrification is resulting in thousands of MLCCs per vehicle, the latest EVs having 10,000-15,000 MLCCs/vehicle. Increasing near-powertrain, power electronics require higher voltage (\>30V/µm) at temperatures \>100°C. In order to support EV manufacture and promote adoption, there is a **clear commercial need** for MLCCs with high-temperature and high-voltage performance that are free of Palladium, Platinum(Pt) and lead(Pb) that can be realised commercially.

**Kaleidoscope addresses DER challenge through:**

* **Growing UK supply chains** for global supply of powders and pastes for high-energy density dielectrics and low-cost, non-reacting Ag-based, Pd/Pt free electrode alloys for MLCCs.
* **Reaching for net zero** through meeting the increasing technical demands for a range of emerging "green" applications, such as EVs, the materials supply chains will be better able to serve these markets commercially, reducing CO2 emissions.

**Kaleidoscope** addresses these challenges by:

* Developing environmentally-friendly, lead-free (non-toxic), high-energy density dielectrics and low-cost, non-reacting Ag-based, Pd/Pt free electrode alloys and industrial-scale scale up (post-project). These approaches, combined with demonstration of MLCC production and performance, will enable our consortium to build UK-based supply chains for global supply of powders and pastes for printing ceramic dielectrics and electrically conducting electrodes for MLCCs.

**Kaleidoscope** **will open up the rapidly growing EV power electronics market to MLCCs, addressing net-zero demand.**

**Kaleidoscope** **is considered innovative** as it will radically improve upon the nearest current _state-of-the-art best-in-class_ BaTiO3 ceramic-based MLCCs. Developing materials and processes to enable these MLCCs to be produced for niche and volume supply chains, **Kaleidoscope** is considered a game-changing development that opens up global power electronic applications.

**Kaleidoscope** consists of 4 partners, including an SME, who have the expertise needed to develop the high-energy density dielectrics and low-cost, non-reacting Ag-based, Pd/Pt free electrode alloys and build materials supply chains for global exploitation.