Abstract: A wet electrolytic capacitor that includes a porous anode body containing a dielectric layer, an electrolyte, and a cathode containing a metal substrate that is abrasive blasted is provided. Abrasive blasting may accomplish a variety of different purposes. For example, it may result in a surface that is substantially uniform and macroscopically smooth, thereby increasing the consistency of conductive coatings formed thereon. While possessing a certain degree of smoothness, the abrasive blasted surface is nevertheless micro-roughened so that it contains a plurality of pits. The pits provide an increased surface area, thereby allowing for increased cathode capacitance for a given size and/or capacitors with a reduced size for a given capacitance. A conductive coating that contains a substituted polythiophene is disposed on the micro-roughened surface.