Recent advances of bipolar electrochemistry in material processing

Bipolar electrochemistry was described as a wireless electrochemical technique in which a conductive object immersed in an external electric field became polarized, enabling coupled redox reactions at opposite ends without direct electrical contact. The induced interfacial potential difference between the two poles of the bipolar electrode governed the thermodynamic feasibility of these reactions, while the spatial distribution of the applied electric field determined their localization along the bipolar electrode. As bipolar electrochemistry had extended beyond its early electrochemical engineering roots into materials processing, energy storage, electrocatalysis, and sensing, this review summarized its fundamental principles and expanding applications. The theoretical foundations, direct-current and alternating-current system configurations, and key operational variables were summarized and discussed. Quantitative modeling approaches and their current predictive limitations were also discussed, alongside comparisons with conventional electrochemical methods. Recent experimental progress across surface engineering, two-dimensional material exfoliation, energy-storage device integration, electrocatalysis, and sensing was then surveyed. Remaining challenges in controllability, yield, selectivity, and scale-up were discussed, with attention to opportunities for improved process control and closer integration between electrochemical modeling and experimentally measurable material outputs.