Tailoring the electrode surface structure by cathodic corrosion in alkali metal hydroxide solution: Nanostructuring and faceting of Au

Nanostructured metals are vital materials in several (electro)chemical applications. Despite the substantial progress in this field, still many limitations are associated with traditional synthetic procedures, including the availability of stable nanoparticles on appropriate supports by avoiding migration and aggregation. On that front, cathodic corrosion has emerged as a powerful technique to tailor the surface structure of metal surfaces on the nanoscale. Cathodic corrosion crucially depends on the electrode potential, the nature and the concentration of cations, as well as the electrode material. Controlling these parameters is essential for applying cathodic corrosion in materials design. In this short review, we discuss the most critical parameters controlling cathodic corrosion and highlight the importance of the nature and the concentration of alkali metal hydroxides in aqueous solution.