ABSTRACT

Most electrochemists perform experiments with conventional three electrode set-ups composed of a working electrode, a counter electrode, and a reference electrode. In the context of bipolar electrochemistry (BPE), things are slightly different, both oxidation and reduction reactions occur simultaneously on the same electrode, which is not physically connected through an electric contact to a power supply. The migration of metal ions is the predominant component of mass transfer under the usual experimental conditions of BPE. The chapter focuses on the one hand, to recall some fundamental aspects of BPE, and on the other, to illustrate the more and very exciting developments in the field with respect to a large variety of applications. A classic design of a bipolar electrochemical cell is based on bipolar electrode, which are stacked between feeder electrodes in either an open or closed configurations. The production of asymmetric particles by BPE can be achieved by either direct electrodeposition or indirect electrodeposition.