Methods for electrodeposition

A method of electrodeposition, the method comprising:

• applying an electric potential to a working electrode,
• wherein the working electrode is in electrochemical contact with an aqueous electrolyte and the aqueous electrolyte is further in electrochemical contact with a counter electrode;
• wherein the aqueous electrolyte comprises a solvate, a salt, and water;
• wherein the solvate comprises an alkali metal salt, an alkaline earth metal salt, an organic compound, or a combination thereof;
• wherein a fully hydrated solution of the solvate in water has a first molar ratio of water to solvate;
• wherein the aqueous electrolyte has a second molar ratio of water to solvate, and the second molar ratio is less than the first molar ratio, such that the aqueous electrolyte has a decreased number of free water molecules than the corresponding fully hydrated solution of the solvate in water;
• wherein the salt comprises a metal, a metalloid, a nonmetal, or a combination thereof;
• wherein the solvate and the salt are different;
• and
• wherein the solvate has a lower reduction potential than the salt;
• thereby reducing at least a portion of the salt in the aqueous electrolyte and electrodepositing a layer comprising the metal, the metalloid, the nonmetal, or combination thereof;
• and
• wherein the method has a suppressed H+ reduction compared to the corresponding method performed using the fully hydrated solution of the solvate in water due to the decreased number of free water molecules in the aqueous electrolyte compared to the corresponding fully hydrated solution of the solvate in water.