ELECTRODE HAVING COLUMNAR STRUCTURE PROVIDED WITH MULTILAYER PART

The present invention provides an electrode which is capable of maintaining good performance for a long period of time, while having high catalytic activity and high mechanical strength, and which is suitable for use in an SOFC or the like. This electrode comprises: an electrode member containing a columnar structure; and a porous collector layer that is provided on the electrode member. The columnar structure comprises a plurality of columnar parts, the lateral surfaces of which are at least partially in contact with each other. Each columnar part is provided with a multilayer part wherein different inorganic compound layers are stacked. In addition, the columnar structure comprises two or more adjacent columnar parts, which are different from each other in the stacking direction of the multilayer part. For example, each columnar part has a width of from 10 nm to 100 nm, and each inorganic compound layer has a thickness of from 1 nm to 10 nm.