A solid electrolytic capacitor that comprises a sintered porous anode, a dielectric layer that overlies the anode body, and a solid electrolyte overlying the dielectric layer is provided. The solid electrolyte comprises a conductive polymer and a nonionic surfactant having a hydrophilic/lipophilic balance (“HLB”) of from about 10 to about 20 and a molecular weight of from about 100 to about 10,000 grams per mole. The nonionic surfactant has a hydrophobic base and a hydrophilic chain that contains alkoxy moieties.

A carbon paste including a carbon powder, a resin, and an oxygen releasing oxidizer. The amount of the oxidizer is 3 to 30 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the total amount of the carbon powder and the resin. A solid electrolytic capacitor element is prepared by a method which includes making a valve-action metal powder sintered to obtain an anode body, electrolytically oxidizing a surface of the anode body to chemically convert the surface into a dielectric layer, electrolytic polymerization to form a semiconductor layer of an electro conductive polymer on the dielectric layer, applying the carbon paste onto the semiconductor layer, and drying and hardening the carbon paste to form a carbon layer.

A carbon paste including a carbon powder, a resin, and an oxygen releasing oxidizer. The amount of the oxidizer is 3 to 30 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the total amount of the carbon powder and the resin. A solid electrolytic capacitor element is prepared by a method which includes making a valve-action metal powder sintered to obtain an anode body, electrolytically oxidizing a surface of the anode body to chemically convert the surface into a dielectric layer, electrolytic polymerization to form a semiconductor layer of an electro conductive polymer on the dielectric layer, applying the carbon paste onto the semiconductor layer, and drying and hardening the carbon paste to form a carbon layer.

An electrochemical or electric layer system, having at least two electrode layers and at least one ion-conducting layer disposed between two electrode layers. The ion-conducting layer has at least one ion-conducting solid electrolyte and at least one binder at grain boundaries of the at least one ion-conducting solid electrolyte for improving the ion conductivity over the grain boundaries and the adhesion of the layers.

An electrochemical or electric layer system, having at least two electrode layers and at least one ion-conducting layer disposed between two electrode layers. The ion-conducting layer has at least one ion-conducting solid electrolyte and at least one binder at grain boundaries of the at least one ion-conducting solid electrolyte for improving the ion conductivity over the grain boundaries and the adhesion of the layers.

An electrolytic capacitor production method is performed in the following procedure. An anode body having a dielectric layer is impregnated with a dispersion containing a conductive polymer and a first solvent. Then, a pH of the dispersion with which the anode body has been impregnated is adjusted or a base is added to the dispersion with which the anode body has been impregnated. Then, at least a part of the first solvent is removed from the anode body.

An electrolytic capacitor production method is performed in the following procedure. An anode body having a dielectric layer is impregnated with a dispersion containing a conductive polymer and a first solvent. Then, a pH of the dispersion with which the anode body has been impregnated is adjusted or a base is added to the dispersion with which the anode body has been impregnated. Then, at least a part of the first solvent is removed from the anode body.

A method for preparing a tantalum power of capacitor grade, comprising: solid tantalum nitride is added when potassium fluotantalate is reduced by sodium. The method increases the nitrogen content in the tantalum powder, and at the same time improves the electrical performance of the tantalum powder. The specific capacitance is increased, and the leakage current and loss is improved. The qualification rate of the anode and the capacitor product is also improved. The method is characterized in that the nitrogen in the tantalum nitride diffuses between the particles of the tantalum powder, with substantially no loss, and thus the nitrogen content is accurate and controllable.

A method for preparing a tantalum power of capacitor grade, comprising: solid tantalum nitride is added when potassium fluotantalate is reduced by sodium. The method increases the nitrogen content in the tantalum powder, and at the same time improves the electrical performance of the tantalum powder. The specific capacitance is increased, and the leakage current and loss is improved. The qualification rate of the anode and the capacitor product is also improved. The method is characterized in that the nitrogen in the tantalum nitride diffuses between the particles of the tantalum powder, with substantially no loss, and thus the nitrogen content is accurate and controllable.

An electrically conductive polymer composition has high electrical conductivity, excellent water resistance, high density, and excellent smoothness. Also disclosed is a solid electrolyte capacitor which is prevented from the reduction in electrical conductivity, has low ESR, and also has excellent reliability. Further disclosed is a method for producing the solid electrolyte capacitor. The electrically conductive polymer composition is produced by removing a dispersion medium from an electrically conductive polymer suspension, wherein the electrically conductive polymer suspension includes: an electrically conductive polymer material including a dopant composed of a polyacid or a salt thereof and an electrically conductive polymer; at least one compound (A) selected from erythritol, xylitol and pentaerythritol; and the dispersion medium.