the electrolyte of a solid tantalum capacitor consists of manganese dioxide which is coated with an outer layer of graphite over which there is deposited a metal containing counterelectrode . buried within the manganese dioxide is at least one layer of graphite and the intervening manganese dioxide between adjacent layers of graphite contains graphite particles that electrically connect the adjacent graphite layers . the capacitor may be subjected to temperatures up to 360 ° c for several minutes without substantial degradation of the characteristic series impedance , even where the capacitor package contains organic materials .