A device comprising two insulated conductors, which are connected to one another via a working electrode, which, in relation to the conductors, is thinner, wherein the working electrode consists of a wire of an electrode material, wherein the working electrode is directly heatable by means of a symmetrical arrangement via a heating current in the form of an alternating current, wherein the heating current as well as the electrolysis current jointly flow through the same conductor, wherein the symmetrical contacting preferably occurs via a bridge circuit, characterized in that (i) the working electrode has the shape of a three-dimensional spiral, wherein the spiral preferably forms a conical spiral, in particular a conical Archimedean spiral or an Archimedean spherical spiral, a loxodrome or a section of such a spiral; or ii) the isolated conductors are connected to one another via a plurality of working electrodes, which, in relation to the isolated conductors, are thinner, wherein the working electrodes are configured so that there is no vertical overlap of the working electrodes and they (a) are preferably parallel to each other, and /or (b) preferably extend from a lower contact point with one of the insulated conductors to an upper contact point with the other insulated conductor that is vertically and optionally horizontally offset with regard to the lower contact point, wherein the working electrodes, in a lower section, extend outwardly from the lower contact point, extend obliquely upwards in a middle section and, in an upper section, extend inwards towards the upper contact point, wherein the inclination in the middle section is arranged so that there is no vertical overlap of the sections of the working electrodes or the working electrodes. (i) the working electrode has the shape of a three-dimensional spiral, wherein the spiral preferably forms a conical spiral, in particular a conical Archimedean spiral or an Archimedean spherical spiral, a loxodrome or a section of such a spiral; or ii) the isolated conductors are connected to one another via a plurality of working electrodes, which, in relation to the isolated conductors, are thinner, wherein the working electrodes are configured so that there is no vertical overlap of the working electrodes and they (a) are preferably parallel to each other, and /or (b) preferably extend from a lower contact point with one of the insulated conductors to an upper contact point with the other insulated conductor that is vertically and optionally horizontally offset with regard to the lower contact point, wherein the working electrodes, in a lower section, extend outwardly from the lower contact point, extend obliquely upwards in a middle section and, in an upper section, extend inwards towards the upper contact point, wherein the inclination in the middle section is arranged so that there is no vertical overlap of the sections of the working electrodes or the working electrodes. (a) are preferably parallel to each other, and /or (b) preferably extend from a lower contact point with one of the insulated conductors to an upper contact point with the other insulated conductor that is vertically and optionally horizontally offset with regard to the lower contact point, wherein the working electrodes, in a lower section, extend outwardly from the lower contact point, extend obliquely upwards in a middle section and, in an upper section, extend inwards towards the upper contact point, wherein the inclination in the middle section is arranged so that there is no vertical overlap of the sections of the working electrodes or the working electrodes.