# Graphite conductivity? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 10, 2003, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphite-conductivity/160279 "2003-03-10T10:29:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![starman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@starman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/starman)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphite-conductivity/160279/1 "2003-03-10T10:29:36Z")
In chem (high school chem, that is), we are taught that the structure of graphite is pretty much a bunch of sheets of carbon with free electrons in between the sheets. This sructure explains why graphite conducts electricity and why it it is ‘greasy’. If graphite does have this two dimensional structure, then does the conductivity of graphite differ with respect to the direction of the current? (parallel or perpendicular to sheets) -Oli ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphite-conductivity/160279/2 "2003-03-10T11:35:08Z")
[Electrical Conductivity](http://jchemed.chem.wisc.edu/JCESoft/Programs/PTL/Sample/Properties/Eleccond.html) > [@](#): > > For some elements, such as carbon in the form of graphite, electrical conductivity is anisotropic–it differs when measured in different directions. The electrical conductance of graphite is 3.7/(mohm-cm) in the plane of the hexagonal layers of carbon atoms, but is 0.0017/(mohm-cm) perpendicular to those layers. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphite-conductivity/160279/3 "2003-03-10T13:05:09Z")
The conductivity of silicon also depends on the direction of current through the lattice.