Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrolyte for use in very high voltage electrolytic capacitors and to an electrolytic capacitor impregnated with the electrolyte of the present invention for use in an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). The electrolyte according to the present invention is composed of a mixture of an alkoxy-substituted alcohol, such as 2-methoxyethanol, 2-ethoxyethanol, or 2-butoxyethanol, and a long chain dicarboxylic acid, where the acid functional groups are separated by 34 carbons (referred to as “dimer acid”) or 54 carbons (referred to as “trimer acid”). The solution is then neutralized with ammonium hydroxide or other amine, such as ammonia, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, ethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, diisopropylethylamine and N-methylimidazole.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a gelled electrolyte and to an electrolytic capacitor impregnated with the gelled electrolyte of the present invention for use in an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). The electrolyte gel according to the present invention is generated by the addition of a gelling agent, preferably D-mannitol, to a conventional electrolyte. The gelling agent of the present invention can be used in ethylene glycol based electrolyte systems with or without a polar organic cosolvent. Dissolved in this mixture is an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid of carbon chain length from eight to thirteen (C8 to C13) as the ionogen. In order to achieve the necessary electrolyte conductivity, an amine is added to adjust the electrolyte pH to within a range of 6-10. An amount of D-mannitol is added to the electrolyte to reach the final weight percent of 8-15% by weight of the total electrolyte mixture.