Electrodeposition combines electrochemistry and materials synthesis in a way that allows for the functionality of deposited materials to be controlled by atomic level electrochemical reactions. While electrodeposition has long been known as a synthesis method for metal plating, various systems reviewed in this study clearly demonstrate the versatility of electrodeposition in materials synthesis. While utilizing solution-based electrochemical reactions that are fundamentally very simple, electrodeposition allows for the production of numerous semiconductors and catalysts as electrode-type materials with desired morphologies. The synthesis versatility together with the practicality of electrodeposition makes this method optimal for the construction of electrodes for use in energy-related applications where low cost for large-scale production is critical.

For most of the material types discussed here, the use of electrodeposition is still in its infancy. For example, the types of ternary or quaternary oxides and chalcogenides that have been electrodeposited have been very limited. However, combination or modification of the methods discussed in this review can enable electrodeposition of more diverse and complex oxide and chalcogenide-based photoelectrodes and catalysts. Also, the recent development on the electrodeposition of Si and III–V semiconductors suggests that electrodeposition may be a viable synthesis method to produce these materials as photoactive semiconductor electrodes. While this review discusses electrodeposition methods used for the synthesis of materials relevant to PEC constructions, we believe that the methods included here will also be useful and applicable when producing electrode materials for other applications. Electrodeposition as a synthetic technique will continue to grow as the types and functionality of materials that can be electrodeposited expand.