Aluminum electrolytic capacitor C when the cathode capacitance C is very large compared with the anode capacitance C. This requirement is given when the cathode capacitance C is approximately 10 times higher than the anode capacitance C. This can be easily achieved because the natural oxide layer on a cathode surface has a voltage proof of approximately 1.5 V and is therefore very thin. Although the present article only refers in essence to aluminum electrolytic capacitors with non-solid electrolyte, an overview of the different types of aluminum electrolytic capacitors is given here in order to highlight the differences. Aluminum electrolytic capacitors are divided
Aluminum electrolytic capacitor sensitive to voltages spikes or current surges. The anodic generated insulating oxide layer is destroyed if the polarity of the applied voltage changes. Every electrolytic capacitor in principle forms a "plate capacitor" whose capacitance is greater the larger the electrode area A and the permittivity ε, and the thinner the thickness (d) of the dielectric. The capacitance is proportional to the product of the area of one plate multiplied with the permittivity, divided by the thickness of the dielectric. Electrolytic capacitors obtain their large capacitance values by a large area and small dielectric thickness. The dielectric thickness of electrolytic capacitors