Electrogeneration of non-electroactive and non-conducting materials: a counterintuitive concept for the functionalization and nanostructuration of electrode surfaces

Abstract

Electrodeposition is a long-lasting and efficient process to generate thin or thick films on conductive supports. It is mainly based on electrochemically induced redox reactions involving electroactive precursors, which are intended to form solid deposits onto the electrode surface. More recently, a rather counterintuitive approach has emerged by exploiting electrochemistry to generate non-electroactive and non-conductive thin films (e.g., sol-gel derived materials), based on the electrogeneration of a catalyst that is likely to induce indirectly the formation of a thin film (i.e., without direct electron transfer with the precursors). This account summarizes the major advances made by our group in this field, focusing primarily on electro-induced sol-gel bioencapsulation and electroassisted self-assembly of oriented and functionalized mesoporous silica films.