Classic Cyclic Voltammetry Setup
Obtaining Reliable CV Results
Cyclic voltammetry (CV) is an important technique in electrochemistry that has broad enough appeal that most folks in or adjacent to electrochemical research have heard of it. Why is CV so useful? First, the resulting voltammogram shows a snapshot of the global electrochemical response of the system. One can visualize simple redox reactions and multi-step reaction schemes with CV. Second, the analysis and interpretation of the voltammogram is flexible and falls along a spectrum between qualitative and quantitative. Whether CV will resolve your reaction of interest and to what extent your results are quantitative is strongly determined by the electrochemical workstation you’ve set up and the ancillary protocols you’ve created (e.g. reagent cleaning, electrode polishing, deaeration). Take a look at our application note linked below for an example of just how critical the setup and protocols are for CV.
For reliable CV results, consider using a versatile potentiostat like our Interface 1010B potentiostat. Pair it with an appropriate electrochemical cell like the Dr. Bob’s Cell or an H-cell with a working electrode and you’ll improve the quality of your CV results.
Interface 1010B shown with Dr. Bob's Cell