Wetchemical

Wetchemical is a term used to describe chemical processes conducted in the liquid phase, in contrast to dry or gas-phase methods. It forms the backbone of traditional chemistry and many materials syntheses, taking place in aqueous or organic solvents and relying on dissolution, precipitation, complexation, or redox reactions to generate, modify, or analyze chemical species.

Common techniques include wet chemical synthesis of nanoparticles via controlled precipitation, solvothermal or hydrothermal methods in sealed vessels, and the chemical bath deposition of thin films. Surface treatments such as wet etching with acids or bases remove or pattern materials; cleaning processes remove contaminants; and surface functionalization uses immersion in reagent solutions to graft ligands or polymers. Additional methods include electrochemical deposition in liquid electrolytes and other solution-based deposition.

Applications span nanomaterials, catalysis, energy storage, semiconductor fabrication, and coatings. Advantages include relatively simple equipment, scalability, and compatibility with benign solvents for some systems; limitations include environmental and safety concerns, longer processing times, and waste generation. Reproducibility and control of particle size, composition, and morphology depend on careful control of solution chemistry, temperature, pH, and reaction kinetics. Safety and environmental stewardship are important in wet chemical processing, due to the use of corrosive reagents, toxic solvents, and hazardous byproducts.