General remarks[edit]

Capacitors are a good example of the fact that even the simplest device can become
complicated given 250 years of evolution.[2]

Theory of conventional construction[edit]

A dielectric material is placed between two conducting plates (electrodes), each of area A and with a
separation of d.

In a conventional capacitor, the electric energy is stored statically by charge separation,

typically electrons, in an electric field between twoelectrode plates. The amount of charge stored
per unit voltage is essentially a function of the size of the plates, the plate material's properties,
the properties of the dielectric material placed between the plates, and the separation distance
(i.e. dielectric thickness). The potential between the plates is limited by the properties of the
dielectric material and the separation distance.
Nearly all conventional industrial capacitors except some special styles such as "feed-through
capacitors", are constructed as "plate capacitors" even if their electrodes and the dielectric
between are wound or rolled. The capacitance formula for plate capacitors is:

.
The capacitance C increases with the area A of the plates and with the permittivity of the
dielectric material and decreases with the plate separation distance d. The capacitance is
therefore greatest in devices made from materials with a high permittivity, large plate area,
and small distance between plates.

Theory of electrochemical construction[edit]

Schematic of double layer capacitor.

1. IHP Inner Helmholtz Layer
2. OHP Outer Helmholtz Layer
3. Diffuse layer
4. Solvated ions
5. Specifically adsorptive ions (Pseudocapacitance)
6. Solvent molecule.

Another type the electrochemical capacitor makes use of two other storage principles to
store electric energy. In contrast to ceramic, film, and electrolytic
capacitors, supercapacitors (also known as electrical double-layer capacitors (EDLC) or
ultracapacitors) do not have a conventional dielectric. The capacitance value of an
electrochemical capacitor is determined by two high-capacity storage principles. These
principles are:

electrostatic storage within Helmholtz double layers achieved on

the phase interface between the surface of the electrodes and theelectrolyte (doublelayer capacitance); and

electrochemical storage achieved by a faradaic electron charge-transfer by specifically

adsorpted ions with redox reactions(pseudocapacitance). Unlike batteries, in these
reactions, the ions simply cling to the atomic structure of an electrode without making or
breaking chemical bonds, and no or negligibly small chemical modifications are involved
in charge/discharge.

The ratio of the storage resulting from each principle can vary greatly, depending on
electrode design and electrolyte composition. Pseudocapacitance can increase the
capacitance value by as much as an order of magnitude over that of the double-layer by
itself.[3]

Common capacitors and their names[edit]

Capacitors are divided into two mechanical groups: Fixed capacitors with fixed capacitance
values and variable capacitors with variable (trimmer) or adjustable (tunable) capacitance
values.
The most important group is the fixed capacitors. Many got their names from the dielectric.
For a systematic classification these characteristics can't be used, because one of the
oldest, the electrolytic capacitor, is named instead by its cathode construction. So the mostused names are simply historical.
The most common kinds of capacitors are:

Ceramic capacitors have a ceramic dielectric.

Film and paper capacitors are named for their dielectrics.

Aluminum, tantalum and niobium electrolytic capacitors are named after the material
used as the anode and the construction of the cathode (electrolyte)

Polymer capacitors are aluminum,tantalum or niobium electrolytic capacitors with

conductive polymer as electrolyte

Supercapacitor is the family name for:

Double-layer capacitors were named for the physical phenomenon of

the Helmholtz double-layer

Pseudocapacitors were named for their ability to store electric energy electrochemically with reversible faradaic charge-transfer

Hybrid capacitors combine double-layer and pseudocapacitors to increase

power density

Silver mica, glass, silicon, air-gap and vacuum capacitors are named for their
dielectric.