6 Bipolar Electrochemistry for Synthesis

Abstract

Bipolar electrochemistry has gained remarkable interest in recent years, especially in the fields of materials science and organic electrosynthesis. This is due to the interesting features of this particular electrochemical technology, such as the contactless nature of the electrochemical reactions, the use of low concentrations of supporting electrolytes, and the synergetic action of electrophoresis and electrolysis. In this chapter, the most important contributions regarding bipolar electrochemistry for the electrosynthesis of novel functional materials are reviewed. These contributions include the most traditional industrial applications and bipolar reactors for electroorganic synthesis, as well as innovative approaches for the fabrication of anisotropic materials and gradient surfaces. The peculiar characteristics of bipolar electrochemistry in these fields are emphasized.