Polished vs non-polished has anyone compared?
on a polished surface there is less surface area but its closer to perfectly flat (microscopically) and fewer or no bubbles are on the surface increasing electrical contact.
on a rough surface there is more surface area but the pits and scratches create "pockets" to hold air and reduce water contact.
so has anyone compared?
heres another way to look at it, the golf ball is dimpled because fluid dynamics show that the dimples create pockets of air. these pockets create a lubricating effect reducing friction. thats because air stays in these dimples and doesnt touch the plastic case of the ball.
translate that to electrodes, if its rough there will be a place or pocket for air to remain trapped thus blocking water from making contact with the electrode, no contact no production. a mirror finish does reduce surface area but it reduces pockets.
if a pocket is visualized as a U shape then you can see how polishing the surface would reduce by a factor of 50% but considering that the pocket looks like 0 because air is trapped and water cannot get in you actually gain 25% surface area in the real world.
better to gain some then lose all right?
i think by mirroring the plates it will increase current draw atleast for the same given electrolyte.