Chemical stability of γ-butyrolactone-based electrolytes for aluminum electrolytic capacitors

γ-Butyrolactone-based electrolytes have been used as the operating electrolytes for aluminum electrolytic capacitors. The chemical stability of these electrolytes at elevated temperatures has been examined by monitoring the decrease in their electrolytic conductivities. The deteriorated electrolytes were analyzed by gas and liquid chromatography and the conductivity decrease was directly correlated with the loss of acid components. In quaternary ammonium hydrogen maleate/γ-butyrolactone electrolytes, the maleate anion decomposed by decarboxylation resulting in a complex polymer containing polyester and polyacrylate structures. Quaternary ammonium benzoate/γ-butyrolactoneelectrolytes decomposed by SN2 reactions giving alkyi benzoates and trialkylamines. The deterioration of the carboxylate salt/γ-butyrolactone electrolytes was accelerated by electrolysis.