An electrode for electrolysis comprising an electrode base material and an electrode substance having an electrically conductive diamond structure covering the surface of the electrode base material. The electrode substance having an electrically conductive diamond structure may be a diamond containing an impurity selected from boron, phosphorus and graphite. Alternatively, the electrode substance having an electrically conductive diamond structure may comprise a composite of a diamond and an electrically conductive material. In a preferred embodiment, the electrode further comprises an interlayer comprising at least one of the carbide of a valve metal and silicon carbide disposed between the electrode base material and the electrode substance having an electrically conductive diamond structure. Also disclosed is an electrolytic cell having two chambers including an anode chamber and a cathode chamber partitioned by an ion-exchange membrane. At least one of the anode placed in the anode chamber and a cathode placed in the cathode chamber is an electrode comprising an electrode base material and an electrode substance having an electrically conductive diamond structure covering the surface of the electrode base material. An electrolytic cell having three chambers is also disclosed, including an anode chamber, an intermediate chamber and a cathode chamber partitioned by ion-exchange membranes. At least one of an anode placed in the anode chamber and a cathode placed in the cathode chamber is an electrode comprising an electrode base material and an electrode substance having an electrically conductive diamond structure covering the surface of the electrode base material.