Stainless Steel Mesh in Electrochemistry: Comprehensive Applications and Future Prospects

Stainless steel mesh (SSM) has emerged as a cornerstone in electrochemical applications owing to its exemplary versatility, electrical conductivity, mechanical robustness, and corrosion resistance. This state-of-the-art review delves into the diverse roles of SSM across a spectrum of electrochemical domains, including energy conversion and storage devices, water treatment technologies, electrochemical sensors, and catalysis. We meticulously explore its deployment in supercapacitors, batteries, and fuel cells, highlighting its utility as a current collector, electrode, and separator. The review further discusses the critical significance of SSM in water treatment processes, emphasizing its efficacy in supporting membranes and facilitating electrocoagulation, as well as its novel uses in electrochemical sensing and catalysis, which include electrosynthesis and bioelectrochemistry. Each section delineates the recent advancements, identifies the inherent challenges, and suggests future directions for leveraging SSM in electrochemical technologies. This comprehensive review showcases the current state of knowledge and articulates the novel integration of SSM with emerging materials and technologies, thereby establishing a new paradigm for sustainable and efficient electrochemical applications. Through critical analysis and insightful recommendations, this review positions itself as a seminal contribution, paving the way for researchers and practitioners to harness the full potential of SSM in advancing the electrochemistry frontiers.