Electrode

For other uses, see Electrode (disambiguation).

1.2 Secondary cell
An electrode is an electrical conductor used to make
A secondary cell, for example a rechargeable battery, is a
cell in which the chemical reactions are reversible. When
the cell is being charged, the anode becomes the positive
(+) and the cathode the negative () electrode. This is
also the case in an electrolytic cell. When the cell is being
discharged, it behaves like a primary cell, with the anode
as the negative and the cathode as the positive electrode.

2 Other anodes and cathodes

In a vacuum tube or a semiconductor having polarity
(diodes, electrolytic capacitors) the anode is the positive
(+) electrode and the cathode the negative (). The electrons enter the device through the cathode and exit the
device through the anode. Many devices have other electrodes to control operation, e.g., base, gate, control grid.

Electrodes used in arc welding

contact with a nonmetallic part of a circuit (e.g. a

semiconductor, an electrolyte or a vacuum). The word
was coined by the scientist Michael Faraday from the
Greek words elektron (meaning amber, from which the
word electricity is derived) and hodos, a way.[1]

In a three-electrode cell, a counter electrode, also called

an auxiliary electrode, is used only to make a connection
to the electrolyte so that a current can be applied to the
working electrode. The counter electrode is usually made
of an inert material, such as a noble metal or graphite, to
keep it from dissolving.

Anode and cathode in electrochemical cells

3 Welding electrodes

An electrode in an electrochemical cell is referred to as

either an anode or a cathode (words that were also coined
by Faraday). The anode is now dened as the electrode at
which electrons leave the cell and oxidation occurs, and
the cathode as the electrode at which electrons enter the
cell and reduction occurs. Each electrode may become
either the anode or the cathode depending on the direction of current through the cell. A bipolar electrode is an
electrode that functions as the anode of one cell and the
cathode of another cell.

1.1

In arc welding an electrode is used to conduct current

through a workpiece to fuse two pieces together. Depending upon the process, the electrode is either consumable,
in the case of gas metal arc welding or shielded metal arc
welding, or non-consumable, such as in gas tungsten arc
welding. For a direct current system the weld rod or stick
may be a cathode for a lling type weld or an anode for
other welding processes. For an alternating current arc
welder the welding electrode would not be considered an
anode or cathode.

Primary cell

4 Alternating current electrodes

A primary cell is a special type of electrochemical cell in

which the reaction cannot be reversed, and the identities
of the anode and cathode are therefore xed. The anode is
always the negative electrode. The cell can be discharged
but not recharged.

For electrical systems which use alternating current the

electrodes are the connections from the circuitry to the
object to be acted upon by the electric current but are not
designated anode or cathode because the direction of ow
1

of the electrons changes periodically, usually many times

per second.

Electrodes for medical purposes, such as EEG,

ECG, ECT, debrillator
Electrodes for electrophysiology techniques in
biomedical research

Electrodes for electroplating

Electrodes for arc welding
Electrodes for cathodic protection
Electrodes for grounding
analysis

using

Inert electrodes for electrolysis (made of platinum)

Membrane electrode assembly

Chemically modied electrodes

Chemically modied electrodes are electrodes that have

their surfaces chemically modied to change the electrodes physical, chemical, electrochemical, optical,
electrical, and transport properties.
These electrodes are used for advanced purposes in research and
investigation.[2]

Working electrode
Reference electrode
Gas diusion electrode
Battery
Redox Reaction
Cathodic protection
Galvanic cell
Anion vs. Cation

Hot cathode

Electrolysis

8 References
[1] Faraday, Michael (1834). On Electrical Decomposition. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. Archived from the original on 2010-01-17. Retrieved 2010-01-17. ( (in which Faraday coins the
words electrode, anode, cathode, anion, cation, electrolyte,
electrolyze)

Electrodes for execution by the electric chair

See also

Tafel equation

Cold cathode

Electrodes for fuel cells

Electrolyte

Noryl

Electrodes are used to provide current through nonmetal

objects to alter them in numerous ways and to measure
conductivity for numerous purposes. Examples include:

Electron versus hole

Electron microscope

Uses

Electrodes
for
chemical
electrochemical methods

REFERENCES

[2] Durst, R., Baumner, A., Murray, R., Buck, R., & Andrieux, C., "Chemically modied electrodes: Recommended terminology and denitions (PDF)", IUPAC,
1997, pp 13171323.

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

9.1

Text

Electrode Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrode?oldid=636536590 Contributors: The Anome, Tarquin, Heron, JohnOwens,

Ixfd64, Prefect, Minesweeper, Mac, Theresa knott, Kingturtle, Andrewa, Glenn, Andres, Rob Hooft, Lommer, The Anomebot, Zoicon5,
Omegatron, Jerzy, Donarreiskoer, Gentgeen, Robbot, Naddy, Hadal, Giftlite, Mintleaf, AJim, Christopherlin, OldakQuill, Antandrus,
Sparky the Seventh Chaos, Andros 1337, El C, Femto, Jpgordon, Bobo192, Kjkolb, Hagerman, Hooperbloob, JYolkowski, Arthena, Riana,
Sade, Spangineer, Snowolf, Jonathan888, King Bowser 64, Computerjoe, Snowmanmelting, Pol098, Cbdorsett, Graham87, Canderson7,
Astronaut, NeonMerlin, User142, Margosbot, Crazycomputers, Gurch, Chobot, YurikBot, NTBot, Kafziel, Postglock, Salsb, RadioKirk,
NawlinWiki, Kyle Barbour, Bota47, Cinik, Wknight94, 21655, Itub, TravisTX, Cafe Nervosa, Reedy, Jrockley, BiT, Edgar181, Jwestbrook, Bluebot, Kurykh, Viperphantom, Pax85, Mion, Ph89, Tucuxi, Daniel5127, Ilikefood, JohnCD, Christian75, Escarbot, AntiVandalBot, Seaphoto, Squantmuts, Res2216restar, MER-C, .anacondabot, VoABot II, Philg88, InvertRect, Koska98, EyeSerene, Anaxial,
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Yobot, Harkain, Daniele Pugliesi, Carlsotr, ArthurBot, AbigailAbernathy, , SassoBot, Mnmngb, Rainald62, SD5, Laaa200,
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Anonymous: 170

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Images

File:Arc_welding_electrodes_and_electrode_holder.triddle.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Arc_

welding_electrodes_and_electrode_holder.triddle.jpg License: Public domain Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
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Tkgd2007

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