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In the intensive efforts to reduce the effective series resis-tance (ESR) in tantalum capacitors, the main impediment is the semiconductor nature of the manganese dioxide (MnO 2) mate-rial. This material is the basis for the cathode plate as it exists in the tantalum capacitor and has a significant material resistivity that accounts for most of the ESR. Replacing this material with a more conductive material is restricted in that this material also forms the basis for the “self-healing ” phenomenon within the solid tantalum capacitor. Conductive polymers not only respond to these challenges, but they bring one very important change – no ignitions. Anode and Dielectric The basis for the tantalum capacitor is the anode plate struc