A valve metal powder by is prepared by a particular set of sequential
steps that involves the use of precursor having preformed morphology. The
method by which the valve metal is prepared includes a stabilization step
that results in the valve metal powder having secondary and tertiary
structures that each corresponds to the secondary and tertiary structures
of the precursor. Also described is a method of producing solid
electrolyte capacitors that include the valve metal powder of the present
invention.