Bipolar Electrochemistry, a Focal Point of Future Research(Review)

Bipolar electrochemistry is a conventional method based on the polarization of an isolated substrate under an applied electric field. This technique has been applied to electrolysis, corrosion, and other areas of chemical engineering since the twentieth century. However, it has been recognized as a powerful tool in many modern domains after water splitting has been demonstrated to be possible using micrometer-sized bipolar electrodes. Modifying inorganic objects in novel ways, such as creating electrical contacts between metal particles using directed electrochemical growth or shaping and exploring the micro- and nanoworld are some of the new applications in this field. Fabrication of electronic devices, electroanalytical purposes, generation of molecular and material gradients, functionalization of single micro- and nanopores, synthesis of Janus particles, design of swimmers, and asymmetric modification of nanoparticles will be discussed in this article as a focal point of future research in bipolar electrochemistry. © 2016, Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.