Tantalum Capacitors

Tantalum Capacitors are capacitors that are made of tantalum pentoxide.

Like aluminum electrolytic capacitors, they are polarized, so they either have a '+' lead, signaling the anode, or one lead is longer than the other, the longer lead being the anode.

Tantalum capacitors are smaller, lighter and more stable than aluminum electrolytic capacitors. They leak less current and have less inductance. However, they tend to be more expensive, have a lower maximum working voltage and capacitance, and are more prone to damage from high current spikes. For the last reason, tantalum capacitors are used mostly in analog signal systems that lack high current-spike noise.

Tantalum capacitors are used in applications including blocking, bypassing, decoupling and filtering.

Tantalum capacitors are not suited for storage or high-frequency coupling due to poor isolation resistance and internal inductance.

Related Resources

Tantalum Capacitor Polarity Markings

Types of Capacitors