Development and status of electrochemical engineering

Electrochemical engineering developed over several decades as the electrochemical industry grew in importance, but was not recognized as an independent, autonomous discipline until Carl Wagner’s 1962 paper entitled The Scope of Electrochemical Engineering was published. Since then, the discipline of electrochemical engineering has grown greatly, bridging the gap between chemical engineering and electrochemical science. Herein, the contribution is reviewed of electrochemical engineering in the development of electrochemical systems, deployments of which are growing exponentially due to urgent global climate-related challenges of sustainable energy conversion and storage, potable water production and sustainable manufacturing in circular economies. Development and deployment of optimised, efficient electrochemical reactors and processes depend critically on inputs from electrochemical engineering.