context: For electrochemical activation of the CRLE two electrodes were placed in a beaker in a distance of approximately 10 cm. A reference electrode (Ag/AgCl 3 M KCl) was placed in close proximity to the electrode to be activated. The second CRLE served as inert counter electrode. In screening experiments different activation potentials and polarisation time were tested at room temperature using 0.1 M NaOH as electrolyte (the results are shown in ESI-7†). Polarisation at 1800 mV for 90 s yielded the best electrode performance at short activation time (Table 1).
answer: 0.1 M NaOH