Electroplating processes are widely employed in industrial environments for a large variety of metallic coatings, ranging from technological to decorative applications. Even if the galvanic electrodeposition is certainly a mature technology, new concepts, novel applications, environmental legislation and the new material requirements for next-generation devices make the scientific research in this field still very active. This review focuses mostly at the decorative and wearable applications, and aims to create a bridge between the past knowledge and the future direction that this process, i.e., electrodeposition, is taking. Both the theoretical fundamentals as well as some of the most widespread practical applications—limited to metallic and alloy coatings—are explored. As an integral part of the industrial process, we take a look at the main techniques thought which the quality control of deposits and surfaces is carried out. Finally, global industrial performance and research directions towards sustainable solutions are highlighted.

Fluid–fluid interfaces are an attractive template for engineering nanomembranes via self-assembly. Although an increasing number of investigations of the local (∼10⁻¹⁰ m²) surface mechanics of a variety of materials, detailed studies of mechanical behavior and the constitutive parameters over larger areas (>10⁻⁶ m²) are relatively scarce. This is because of the limitations of quantitative experimental techniques due to the asymmetry of the length scales involved. Here, we discuss fabrication and characterization of a polysaccharide and polyamino acid-based nanomembrane having a thickness of approximately 200 nm and surface area of 25 × 10⁻⁶ m² and present mechanical data for hyaluronic acid–poly-L-lysine nanomembranes using a modified pendant drop as a test frame. Covalent cross-linking of these molecules at fluid–fluid interfaces leads to the formation of supramolecular networks which confer properties such as mechanical rigidity that are outside of the description provided by equilibrium surface thermodynamics. A theoretical framework for data interpretation of purely elasticity interface systems is provided, and experimental signatures of anisotropic tension distributions on axisymmetric drop and bubble shapes are identified. By taking advantage of the mechanical transparency of the fluid–fluid interface, this method provides a means of accessing mechanical properties of ultrathin materials independent of artifacts, such as adhesion, introduced by a solid substrate.