Since the discovery of the electrochemical discharge phenomenon by Fizeau and Foucault several contributions have expanded the wide range of applications associated with this high current density electrochemical process The complexity of the phenomenon from the macroscopic to the microscopic scales led since then to experimental and theoretical studies from different research fields This contribution reviews the chemical and electrochemical perspectives where a mechanistic model based on results from radiation chemistry of aqueous solutions is proposed In addition applications to micro-machining and fabrication of nanoparticles are discussed (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved