Electrochemical Synthesis of Inorganic Compounds

Electrochemical synthesis of inorganic compounds is a relatively unknown field. The successful, large industrial processes, such as chlorine-caustic production, are well known, but the large number of other compounds that have been synthesized electrochemically are much less appreciated, even by electrochemists and inorganic chemists. The last comprehensive book on this subject was published in the 1930’s and no modern review or summary of the whole field is in existence. But the field is in no way dormant, as attested by the large number of publications, undiminished throughout the years, describing new syntheses and improvements of old ones. Indeed, it can be expected that practical applications of electrochemical inorÂ- ganic syntheses will increase in the future as an increasing portion of our energy will be available in electrical form. Electrochemical processes have important advantages over chemical routes: often the selectivity of the reaction can be better controlled through the use of potential control at the electrode, and the creation of environmenÂ- tally harmful waste material can be avoided more easily since one is using the purest reagent - the electron. In addition to development of new synthetic routes, many old ones, which were found to be unÂ- economical in the past, are worth reexamining in light of the recent considerable advances in cell design principles, materials of construcÂ- tion, and electrode and separator materials, together with our imÂ- proved understanding of electrode reactions and electrocatalysis. It is in the hope of accelerating this process that this bibliography is published.