An electrosurgical instrument having a handle and at least one shaft for effecting movement of a pair of opposing end effectors relative to one another. The electrosurgical instrument comprises a housing configured to support the at least one shaft a first electrode integrally associated with one of the opposing end effectors having a first electrically conductive surface, a first insulating substrate, and a first insulating layer disposed between the first conductive surface and the first insulating substrate and a second electrode integrally associated with the other end effector of the instrument such that the second electrode resides in opposing relation to the first electrode having a second electrically conductive surface, a second insulating substrate, and a second insulating layer disposed between the second conductive surface and the second insulating substrate. A first coating on the first electrode extends a distance along the electrically conductive surface to a first position, and a second coating on the second electrode extends a lesser distance along the electrically conductive surface, relative to the first position, to a second position such that the first and second coatings are offset in relation to one another.
