Quaternary salt solution electrolyte for electrolytic capacitors

An electrolytic solution comprises a) a quaternary phosphonium salt having as a cation [PR₁ R₂ R₃ R₄] wherein R₁ to R₄ are each a C1-20 hydrocarbon group, preferably aryl or C1-10 alkyl which may link to form a ring, and as anion a conjugate base of an organic or inorganic acid (the anion being selected according to the capacitor voltage), dissolved in amount of 0.1 to 40 (5 to 30) wt% in b) an aprotic solvent such as an amide or lactone, especially γ-butyrolactone. The electrolyte is used in an aluminum electrolytic capicitor; it is shown used at electric conductivities of 2 to 25 mS/cm. The electrolyte can reduce internal resistance of the electrolytic capacitor and broaden the temperature range over which the electrolytic capacitor can be used.