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.
Photoelectrochemistry, 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.