Kolbe’s method, also called Kolbe electrolysis, involves the electrolysis of aqueous solutions of sodium or potassium salts of carboxylic acids.
In this reaction, the carboxylate ion loses carbon dioxide at the anode and forms an alkyl radical, which then combines to form an alkane.
So the defining feature of Kolbe’s method is:
\[
\text{electrolysis of an aqueous solution of potassium carboxylates}
\]
Hence, the correct answer is:
\[
\boxed{(D)}
\]