TOP > Technical note > What is Cyclic Voltametry?

Linear Sweep Voltammetry (LSV) measures the electric response with sampling it at a constant scan rate from initial to final electric potential.

Cyclic voltammetry (CV) is a reversible LSV measurement which scans electric potential turned to reverse direction after reaching final potential and scan back to initial potential. In CV, the reversibility of the product produced in forward scanning can be analyzed by backward scanning. Because of this characteristic, CV has been applied widely. If a CV conducts with potential wave form as shown in right, then we can study the substance characteristic as:

- Stability in oxidized and reduced forms
- Molecular adsorption in redox process
- Measurements of kinetic rate constants
- Study of reaction mechanism
- Reversibility of electrochemical reaction
- Standard redox potential, Eo=(Epa+Epc)/2
- Electron transfer number, ΔE=Epa-Epc= 58/n
*n: electron transfer number per mole
 
CV Measurement Structure

David K.Gosser,Jr.,Cyclic Voltammetry Reaction
Mechanisms,VCH Publishers,Inc. 1994.


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