There are three families of electrolytic capacitor: aluminium electrolytic capacitors, tantalum electrolytic capacitors, and niobium electrolytic capacitors. The large capacitance of electrolytic capacitors makes them particularly suitable for passing or bypassing low-frequency signals, and for storing large amounts of energy.
One can understand that the electrolytic capacitors has a specific capacitance that is significantly greater than all the other capacitors. An electrolytic capacitor is a polarized capacitor whose anode is a positive plate where an oxide layer is formed through electrochemical principles that limit the use of reverse voltage.
One common electrolyte used in these capacitors is boric acid or ammonium borate in water. These capacitors are utilized for various purposes especially to store large charges. Electrolytic capacitors are generally made up of aluminum or tantalum material.
The electrolyte material enables the electrolytic capacitor to produce large capacitances. The electrolyte used in these capacitors is a liquid or gel-like substance that works as a dielectric material. It enables the electrolytic capacitor to have a large capacitance in its compact size.
Electrolytic capacitors can be either wet-electrolyte or solid polymer. They are commonly made of tantalum or aluminum, although other materials may be used. Supercapacitors are a special subtype of electrolytic capacitors, also called double-layer electrolytic capacitors, with capacitances of hundreds and thousands of farads.
Standard electrolytic capacitors, and aluminium as well as tantalum and niobium electrolytic capacitors are polarized and generally require the anode electrode voltage to be positive relative to the cathode voltage. Nevertheless, electrolytic capacitors can withstand for short instants a reverse voltage for a limited number of cycles.