Pros and Cons of Sacrificial Anode Electrolysis for the Preparation of Transition Metal Colloids: A Review

Electrochemical synthesis of transition metal nanoparticles (NPs) and related oxides is highly appealing, as it affords nanomaterials with high purity and dimensional control by properly setting only few experimental parameters. The resurgence of electrochemical routes to NPs can be traced back to seminal works by the Reetz's group, about 25 years ago. Despite many advantages, this method has intrinsic limitations, mainly related to the use of organic solvents, which may limit real-life applications of the as-prepared NPs. Therefore, an important current issue in the electrosynthesis of these systems regards the preparation of aqueous and long-lived colloids. In this Review, we provide an overview of the most promising electrosyntheses of colloidal nanomaterials; real-life applications of electrochemically produced NPs will also be commented on.