More recently, a new solution-based method has been demonstrated to grow covalent crystals under ambient pressure conditions and at temperatures below 100 C. This method, called electrochemically mediated growth, combines electrochemical deposition and solid state alloying. In the case of III-V semiconductors, one of the elements (e.g., As) is electrochemically deposited from an electrolyte solution onto a substrate that is made out of the second bimetallic component (e.g., In). Upon electrochemical deposition a solid-state reaction takes place that forms the bimetallic compound.