Auxiliary electrode

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The Auxiliary electrode, often also called the counter electrode, is an electrode used in an electrochemical cell with a working electrode. The working electrode is the electrode on which the reaction of interest occurs, and on which measurements are taken. The counter electrode changes in polarity opposite to that of the working electrode, but its current and polarity is not measured. It exists to ensure that current does not run through the reference electrode (three electrode system), and often has a surface area much larger than that of the working electrode to ensure that the reactions occurring on the working electrode are not surface area limited by the counter electrode.

[edit] See also

• Electrochemical cell
• Electrochemistry
• Voltammetry

[edit] References

1. http://www.drhuang.com/science/chemistry/electrochemistry/polar.doc.htm
2. http://www.gamry.com/App_Notes/Potentiostat_Primer.htm
3. http://www.iupac.org/goldbook/A00535.pdf
4. http://new.ametek.com/content-manager/files/PAR/App%20Note%20E-4%20-%20Electrochemical%20Analysis%20Techniques1.pdf

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