Question

why does graphite act as a good conductor along the layers and semiconductor across the layers?

Answer 1

Dear Student,

Graphite acts as a good conductor of heat and electricity because graphite contains delocalised electrons. Graphite has a 3D network structure. It consists of only carbon atoms. Here each carbon atom is covalently bonded to the three carbon atoms. This arrangement makes layers of hexagonal rings that can slip past one another. Each carbon atom here contains a free electron in the outermost energy shell. These free electrons move along the layers of graphite from one carbon to another and are responsible for conduction of heat and electricity through graphite.