Sol-Gel Coatings by Electrochemical Deposition

This chapter introduces a novel electrochemical deposition method for preparing sol-gel coatings, which is relatively less known in the sol-gel community. The process can be well manipulated by deposition parameters, such as deposition potential and time, and it has merits in selectively coating conductive regions of samples with complex geometries. The chapter then discusses how electrodeposition influences the hydrolysis and condensation of sol-gel and facilitates film deposition. Electrodeposition from sol-gel solutions containing two or more different sol-gel precursors yields hybrid films, as the sol-gel components hydrolyze and condense together forming a cross-linked structure. The sol-gel precursors can be co-electrodeposited with various species forming composite films. Finally, the chapter shows three main applications of electrodeposited sol-gel films, that is, corrosion protection and adhesion promotion, electrochemical sensors, and finally biocomposite films. Other applications such as solid-phase microextraction (SPME), nonlinear optics, antireflection, electrocatalysis, and superhydrophobic films are also discussed.