What does cyclic voltammetry measure?

Cyclic voltammetry is a powerful electrochemical technique used to study the redox behavior of substances. It measures the current response of an electrochemical cell as the potential is varied linearly with time. In this process, a potential is applied to an electrode and cycled back and forth, allowing researchers to probe the reduction and oxidation processes of electroactive species in a solution. By analyzing the resulting current vs. potential plot, known as a cyclic voltammogram, valuable information about the kinetics of electron transfer, the thermodynamics of the redox reactions, and the identification of various species can be obtained.

This makes it distinct from other methods. For instance, measuring the potential of an electrochemical cell over time focuses on static measurements without the dynamic interaction inherent in cyclic voltammetry. Similarly, determining temperature dependence of reaction rates pertains to a different aspect of chemistry that does not involve a direct measurement of current in response to a varying potential. Lastly, while determining the concentration of ions in a solution is vital in electrochemistry, it typically utilizes different methods like potentiometry or ion-selective electrodes rather than cyclic voltammetry, which centers on analyzing current responses.