Highly uniform, straightforward, controllable fabrication of copper nano-objects via artificial nucleation-assisted electrodeposition

Structural Evolution of Au Electrodes during Cathodic Corrosion: Initial Stages of Octahedral-Nanocrystal Growth

“…Electrochemical techniques are proving an increasingly attractive route for fabricating a wide array of nanoscale materials such as shaped nanocrystals, nanosheets, nanowires, core-shell and dendritic nanostructures, hierarchically porous nanostructures, and composite nanostructures. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] The unique feature of electrochemical synthesis is applying voltages/currents to either synthesize colloidal nanoparticles, grow nanoparticles on conductive substrates, or restructure the surface of metallic electrodes. In this context, the main electrochemical approaches are: (i) electrodeposition of metals (reduction of metal ions and electrocrystallization) under controlled current/ potential conditions, 4,8,9 which typically is described by nucleationand-growth models, 10,11 (ii) electrochemical dealloying, where one metal component selectively leaches from an alloy to generate nanoporosity, 12 (iii) repetitive oxidation-reduction cycles at variable scan rate, comprising either anodic or cathodic processes, [13][14][15] (iv) square-wave potential program, in which periodical perturbation is applied with certain frequencies to the potential of the working electrode, 5,6,16 (v) positive polarization at various potentials in the presence of specifically adsorbing anions, 17,18 (vi) negative polarization under specific conditions by so-called cathodic corrosion.…”

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] The unique feature of electrochemical synthesis is applying voltages/currents to either synthesize colloidal nanoparticles, grow nanoparticles on conductive substrates, or restructure the surface of metallic electrodes. In this context, the main electrochemical approaches are: (i) electrodeposition of metals (reduction of metal ions and electrocrystallization) under controlled current/ potential conditions, 4,8,9 which typically is described by nucleationand-growth models, 10,11 (ii) electrochemical dealloying, where one metal component selectively leaches from an alloy to generate nanoporosity, 12 (iii) repetitive oxidation-reduction cycles at variable scan rate, comprising either anodic or cathodic processes, [13][14][15] (iv) square-wave potential program, in which periodical perturbation is applied with certain frequencies to the potential of the working electrode, 5,6,16 (v) positive polarization at various potentials in the presence of specifically adsorbing anions, 17,18 (vi) negative polarization under specific conditions by so-called cathodic corrosion. 1,[19][20][21] Among these examples of electrochemical surface modification, cathodic corrosion has received growing attention in recent years, 1,[19][20][21][22] despite being reported over one century ago, when Fritz Haber observed clouds dispersing from negatively polarized metals.…”