Cathoderelated

Cathode-related is an adjective used to describe things connected with a cathode, the electrode involved in reduction in electrochemical systems and a source of electron emission in vacuum devices. In electrochemistry, the cathode is defined as the electrode where reduction occurs. In galvanic (voltaic) cells, the cathode is the positive electrode, while in electrolytic cells it is the negative electrode; in both cases the cathode is the site of reduction, with the anode undergoing oxidation. The term appears in contexts such as electroplating, where the workpiece acts as the cathode to receive metal, and cathodic protection, where making a structure the cathode reduces corrosion.

In energy storage and materials science, cathode materials are a major focus of research. Lithium-ion battery cathodes include layered oxides and spinels, among other chemistries, with aims to increase energy density, thermal stability, and cycle life while reducing reliance on scarce elements. Cathode behavior also influences safety and performance under various operating conditions.

In corrosion science, cathodic protection uses either sacrificial anodes or an impressed current to shift the metal surface toward cathodic polarization, thereby suppressing anodic dissolution. In electronics and vacuum technology, the cathode is the electron-emitting electrode, typically through thermionic or field emission, as in cathode-ray tubes and certain X-ray tubes.

Overall, cathode-related topics cover materials, processes, and phenomena associated with cathodes across electrochemical, electronic, and industrial applications.