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Auxiliary (Counter) Electrodes

Extensive Materials and Shapes of CEs for each application

Optimizing  your Electrochemical Research


For a system using a three-electrode potentiostat, current is measured when a potential is applied between the working electrode and the reference electrode. Passage of current through an electrical circuit requires electron transfer reaction between the working electrode and the counter electrode.


The main function of the counter electrode is to provide the location of the second electron transfer reaction.


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Range of Counter Electrodes


Frequently asked questions

Here are some common questions about our counter electrodes.

Counter electrode is also called as auxiliary electrode. There is no objection on the former, but somewhat about the latter. It has the meanings such as preliminary, auxiliary, attached, etc, and it is a word that receives an impression such as something is additional. Of course, that is not the case. Counter electrode is indispensable for performing electrochemical experiments. Two electrodes are absolutely necessary for current flow and potential measure, which are one working electrode and one counter electrode.

The main function of the counter electrode is to provide the location of the second electron transfer reaction. Important parameter of the counter electrode is the surface area. It is required (area) large enough to support the current generated for the working electrode.



For example, the surface area of the platinum electrode of 5 cm is sufficient to use as an electrode, such as steady-state cyclic voltammetry experiments. However, for generating a high current measurements such as bulk electrolysis, the counter electrode of a larger area is required, as ALS 012961 which the length of platinum is 23 cm. This electrode is used for measurement, such as rotating ring disk.



The cell shape is also an important point. For the electrolysis, to avoid the contamination of the product from the counter electrode, it is arranging separately, isolated in a chamber, from the working electrode. For electrochemical measurements such as cyclic voltammetry, because of the short measurement time, you can ignore the effects of contamination by electrolysis. Therefore, it is not usual the isolation of the counter electrode. In some cases, the separation of the counter electrode in a chamber, increases the resistance between counter electrode and reference electrode, under the influence of (sintered glass) fritz. However, in the case of bulk electrolysis, because of long measurement time, the agitation and separation of the working electrode and counter electrode using a chamber is necessary, to prevent the transportation between two electrodes.

The working electrode is an electrode for conducting a desired reaction (potentiometry is aimed at measuring the potential, so sometimes the working electrode is referred as indicator electrode), then the pairing electrode is the counter electrode.


In the experiment using two electrodes system, it may be difficult to distinguish one from the other. However, in three electrode system using potentiostat, the working electrode and the counter electrode can be clearly distinguished. By using a potentiostat, even if the two-electrode system configuration that counter electrode is connected together with reference electrode at same terminal, the working and counter electrodes are still clearly distinguishable. Therefore, it is desirable to understand working and counter electrodes with relationship to potentiostat.