The scope of electrochemistry having broadened tremendously within
the last ten years has become a remarkably diverse science. In the
field of electroorganic synthesis, for example, selectivity has been
improved by use of electrogenerated reagents, energy uptake lowered
and space-time yields have been improved by using mediated
reactions. In addition, electroorganic chemistry has been efficiently
applied to the synthesis of key building blocks for complex molecules
and has established its role as a new tool in organic synthesis.
However electrochemistry has also found new and interesting
applications in quite different fields of chemistry. Photo￾electrochemistry, as one example, is not only valuable for
transformations of organic molecules but also for the very important
goal of energy conversion. More insight has been gained in the
processes occurring on illuminated semiconductor electrodes and
micro particles. Designing the composition of electrode surfaces
can lead to the selective activation of electrodes. Electrochemical
sensors and techniques present new opportunities for the analysis
of biological compounds in medicine and biology. Research in the
field of conducting polymers is very intensive because of interesting
potential applications.