Electrochemically mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (eATRP)

This review covers both fundamental aspects and applications of electrochemically mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (eATRP). eATRP setup is discussed in detail, together with the advantages and limitations of this technique. All relevant parameters that can influence eATRP outcome are evaluated (e.g. applied current and potential, stirring and diffusion, solvents and supporting electrolytes). Various materials prepared by eATRP are described, including homopolymers, block copolymers, star polymers, and surface grafted polymer brushes. In addition, other electrochemical techniques conceptually similar to eATRP are discussed, including copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition, electrochemical micropatterning, reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization using redox-sensitive initiators, and catalyst removal by electrochemical reduction. The increasing research activity in the last decade indicates that electrochemically regulated methods are becoming valuable tools in the design and synthesis of advanced polymer materials.