This is possible because of its inherently large surface area, high electrical conductivity, and chemically inert state. CFOAM® carbon foam can be readily coated with a number of active materials to form either an anode or cathode.

A battery has two electrodes, a cathode and an anode, along with a separator and an electrolyte medium for carrying ions between the reactants through the separator. A limiting factor in battery performance is the effective surface area of its electrodes.