An electrode for aluminium production and a method of making same

An electrode for production of aluminium metal by electrolysis of an aluminium containing compound dissolved in a molten electrolyte, where the electrowinning process is performed in smelting cells of conventional Hall-Hèroult design. The electrode comprises a calcinated carbon containing body being integrated with at least one composite metallic conductor comprising conducting elements of a Fe containing material and conducting elements of a Cu containing material. The composite conductor comprises a barrier layer material at the interface between the two conducting materials. Barrier materials of ceramic, Refractory Hard Materials (RHM), and of metallic types are proposed as well as methods for their application.