1. The system functions by maintaining the current at an auxiliary electrode . 2. This isolates the undesired redox events taking place at the auxiliary electrode . 3. There may be several auxiliary electrodes to aid in starting and maintaining the arc. 4. The auxiliary electrode may be isolated from the working electrode using a glass frit. 5. More complicated experiments may add working electrodes as required and at times reference or auxiliary electrodes . 6. The auxiliary electrode passes all the current needed to balance the current observed at the working electrode. 7. The auxiliary electrode functions as a cathode whenever the working electrode is operating as an anode and vice versa. 8. In the electrochemical polymerization at first an auxiliary electrode layer on the dielectric has to be applied and to be connected to the anode. 9. The auxiliary electrode can be almost anything as long as it doesn't react with the bulk of the analyte solution and conducts well. 10. The auxiliary electrode tries to keep the reference electrode at a certain reduction potential and to do this it has to balance the working electrode.
