Abstract
Continuous advancements in power conversion techniques address the growing need for efficiency and adaptability in contemporary energy applications, including e-mobility, renewable energy, and energy storage systems. This work presents a review grounded in the fundamental topologies of power converters and subsequently analyzes their modern modifications and technological advances. Traditional structures such as Buck, Boost, Ćuk, and flyback converters remain effective solutions for voltage and current regulation; however, they exhibit limitations when extremely high voltage conversion ratios are required. These constraints have motivated the emergence of more sophisticated architectures capable of overcoming such challenges. In this context, the paper provides a novel characterization and comparative analysis of quadratic and bidirectional converter topologies, emphasizing their capability to efficiently achieve both high and low conversion ratios while minimizing component stress and avoiding extreme load cycles. Quadratic converters demonstrate high performance in nonlinear systems with significant energy demands, whereas bidirectional converters enhance energy management in applications requiring bidirectional power flow, such as electric vehicles and energy storage systems.