2024-02-23
electrodes-Why Are Electrodes Made Of Graphite
The key to answering the question, “why are electrodes often made of graphite?”, is to consider the structure of graphite. In graphite, the carbon atoms are arranged in layers, retaining their structure through the use of covalent bonds. A significant feature of graphite’s structure is the number of delocalized electrons which are present. Graphite requires only three of its outer energy electrons to bond, leaving the fourth free to act in a delocalized manner. Delocalized electrons are not readily associated with a particular atom and move freely. These electrons enable graphite to exhibit a high level of conductivity, explaining why the material is frequently used for electrodes.