Working electrode selection
Choice of working electrode is a vital component for experiment
Electrical chemical reactions should be observed at a wide potential range without influence arises from the electrode itself. Beside that, chemical species' reaction potential have to fall in the potential window of the electrode.
Pt(Platinum) and Au (Gold) electrodes - applied to organic or inorganic substances measurement because they have high over potential for oxygen evolution and low over potential for hydrogen evolution.
Hg(Mercury) electrode - well suited to measure reduction reactions because of its high over potential for hydrogen evolution. Hg electrode also can observe the reduction reaction of Zn (zinc) specifically in contrast to other electrodes which would hidden by hydrogen generation.
At the measurement with non-aqueous solvent, hydrogen/oxygen over potential does not affect. Instead of that, decomposition potential of the non-aqueous solvent and support electrolyte comes to an important factor. Furthermore, commingling of water with the non-aqueous solvent makes the potential window narrower by the quantity of the water.