Electrochemical : Linear Sweep and Cyclic Voltammetry

Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) are the most widely used voltammetric techniques for studying redox reactions of both organic and inorganic compounds because they are unmatched in their ability to provide information on the steps involved in electrochemical processes with only a modest expenditure of time and effort in the acquisition and interpretation of data. These electroanalytical methods require rather simple and inexpensive instrumentation and provide information not only on the electrochemical quantities typical of a redox process, but also on possible chemical reactions coupled with charge transfer steps. This is because the electrode can be used as a tool for producing reactive species in a small solution layer surrounding its surface and at the same time for monitoring chemical reactions in which they are involved. Moreover, as the relevant responses can be obtained within a few milliseconds after stimulation of the electrode, they may be used for studying even very fast reactions, thus allowing detection of short-lived transient intermediates. The LSV and CV techniques were proposed in the early 1950s, together with some theoretical approaches for rationalizing the simplest responses. However, the use of these electroanalytical methods has received considerable impetus only more recently, thanks to increased knowledge of more subtle criteria for interpreting the relevant responses and to greater availability of theoretical tools for processing experimental data. This article briefly summarizes the performance of these techniques, as well as the criteria followed to gain information on participants in electrochemical processes from the recorded responses.