Tantalum capacitor

A tantalum electrolytic capacitor is an electrolytic capacitor, a passive component of electronic circuits. It consists of a pellet of tantalum metal as an anode, covered by an insulating oxide layer that forms the dielectric, surrounded by liquid or solid electrolyte as a cathode. Because of its very thin and relatively high permittivity dielectric layer, the tantalum capacitor distinguishes itself from other conventional and electrolytic capacitors in having high capacitance per volume (high volumetric efficiency) and lower weight.The capacitor cell of a tantalum electrolytic capacitor consists of sintered tantalum powderSchematic representation of the structure of a sintered tantalum electrolytic capacitor with solid electrolyte and the cathode contacting layersConstruction of a typical SMD tantalum electrolytic chip capacitor with solid electrolyteTantalum chip capacitorsTantalum 'pearls' for PCB mountingAxial tantalum capacitorsTypical impedance and ESR as a function of frequencyTypical impedance and ESR curves over frequency for different electrolytic capacitor styles compared with MLCC A tantalum electrolytic capacitor is an electrolytic capacitor, a passive component of electronic circuits. It consists of a pellet of tantalum metal as an anode, covered by an insulating oxide layer that forms the dielectric, surrounded by liquid or solid electrolyte as a cathode. Because of its very thin and relatively high permittivity dielectric layer, the tantalum capacitor distinguishes itself from other conventional and electrolytic capacitors in having high capacitance per volume (high volumetric efficiency) and lower weight. Tantalum is a conflict mineral. Tantalum electrolytic capacitors are considerably more expensive than comparable aluminum electrolytic capacitors.