In addition, several post-processing steps, e.g. washings or reactions to destabilize the otherwise stable colloids, might be required to enable the supporting of the NPs on various surfaces to develop hybrid materials and/or heterogeneous catalysts. In electrocatalysis, the use of additives might not only prevent a suitable supporting of the NPs but might also prevent suitable interactions between the NPs and conductive materials, thus impairing efficient electron transfer between the NPs and the actual electrode .