Electrochemical advances for cultural heritage science

Electrochemistry has become an increasingly powerful tool in cultural heritage science, offering minimally invasive strategies for both conservation and archaeometric research. Recent advances in Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) have focused on the development of gelled electrolytes, miniaturised probes, and portable configurations, enabling reliable analyses on fragile or irregular metallic artefacts while minimising risks to their surfaces. In parallel, Voltammetry of Immobilised Microparticles (VIMP) has expanded far beyond its original application to metals, demonstrating remarkable versatility across ceramics, paper, pigments, and complex polychrome artworks. These approaches not only allow for the characterisation and discrimination of materials but also provide insights into provenance, production technologies, and long-term stability. By bridging conservation practice with archaeometric questions, electrochemical methods are emerging as cornerstone techniques in heritage science, complementing conventional analytical approaches and opening new perspectives for the study and preservation of cultural materials.