Book excerpt: This book summarizes the electrochemical routes of nanostructure preparation in a systematic and didactic manner. It provides a comprehensive overview of electrodeposition, anodization, carbon nanotube preparation and other methods of nanostructure fabrication, combining essential information on the physical background of electrochemistry with materials science aspects of the field. The book includes a brief introduction to general electrochemistry with an emphasis on physico-chemical aspects, followed by a description of the sample preparation methods. In each chapter, an overview of the particular method is accompanied by a discussion of the relevant physical or chemical properties of the materials, including magnetic, mechanical, optical, catalytic, sensoric and other features. While some preparation methods are discussed in connection with the theories of physical electrochemistry (e.g. electrodeposition), the book also covers methods that are more heuristic but nonetheless utilize electric current (e.g. anodization of porous alumina or synthesis of carbon nanotubes by means of electric arc discharge).