The surface of a working electrode becomes fouled, passivated or scratched with use, which distorts peak shapes in voltammograms and lowers reproducibility. Polishing renews the surface mechanically with fine alumina particles and removes these problems.

The P400 kit contains only 0.05 µm alumina and is usually sufficient for routine surface renewal. The P800 kit adds 1.0 and 0.3 µm alumina for staged polishing from coarse to fine, which suits scratched or heavily fouled surfaces. The GU100 is an electric machine that does the polishing by motor instead of by hand.

Key Features

P400 kit: 0.05 µm alumina powder, abrasive paper, polishing pads and containers, for everyday surface renewal
P800 kit: 1.0 / 0.3 / 0.05 µm alumina powders, abrasive papers, nylon and microcloth pads, for staged polishing
GU100: electric electrode polishing machine
Rule of thumb: move from coarse to fine, use a separate pad for each alumina size and rinse thoroughly between steps; leftover coarse particles cut new scratches
For glassy carbon electrodes alumina is used on a microcloth pad; nylon pads are usually reserved for coarser abrasives such as diamond paste
Platinum and gold electrodes are usually started on diamond paste (about 1 µm) and finished with alumina
Work in a figure-eight motion with light pressure and wet the pad before use
Rinse with distilled water afterwards; if needed, hold only the electrode tip (not the contact end) in a low-power ultrasonic bath for a few minutes at most

Technical Specifications

Product type	Electrode polishing kit and electric polishing machine
P400 kit	0.05 µm alumina powder, abrasive paper, polishing pads, containers
P800 kit	1.0 / 0.3 / 0.05 µm alumina powders, abrasive papers, nylon and microcloth pads
GU100	Electric polishing machine
Alumina size and role	1.0 µm: coarse/first stage; 0.3 µm: intermediate; 0.05 µm: final stage and routine care
Suitable electrodes	Glassy carbon, platinum, gold and similar solid disk electrodes
Not suitable for	Carbon paste electrodes (not polished; surface is renewed with fresh paste)
Polishing motion	Figure-eight, light pressure
Rinsing	Distilled water; ultrasonic bath for the electrode tip only, low power (below about 150 W), 5 min at most
Surface check	Cyclic voltammetry in ferri/ferrocyanide; ideal peak separation for a reversible one-electron couple is about 59 mV, higher in practice

Available Options

Model	Description
P400 Series Polishing Kit	Includes 0.05 µm alumina powder, abrasive paper, polishing pads and containers
P800 Series Polishing Kit	Includes 1.0 µm, 0.3 µm and 0.05 µm alumina powders, abrasive papers, nylon and microcloth polishing pads
GU100 Electric Polishing Machine	Electric electrode polishing machine