Potential‐Controlled (R)Evolution: Electrochemical Synthesis of Nanoparticles with Well‐Defined Shapes

Abstract To enable the rational design of synthetic approaches for producing precisely defined nanomaterials, a detailed mechanistic understanding needs to be established. Colloidal approaches to nanoparticle growth have been used to produce many novel shape‐ and composition‐controlled nanoparticles with various important target applications. Concurrently, electrochemical approaches to nanoparticle synthesis have also been developed, though at present this field is less expansive than colloidal synthesis. This review covers recent progress in the synthesis of shaped metal, metal oxide, and alloyed nanoparticles via electrochemical methods that use specific control of potential or current in combination with tailoring of the chemical growth solution environment. These approaches have produced nanoparticles with compositions and architectures that were inaccessible via standard colloidal approaches. Importantly, electrochemical nanoparticle synthesis can also serve as a powerful tool for understanding fundamental mechanisms of colloidal nanoparticle growth. We highlight multiple promising opportunities in this growing research area.