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 simple and inexpensive
instrumentation and provide not only information
on the electrochemical quantities typical of a
redox process, but also allow investigations of 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 to monitor
chemical reactions involving these species.
Moreover, since the relevant responses can be obtained
within a few milliseconds after stimulation of
the electrode, they may be used for studying mechanisms
involving very fast reactions, thus allowing
detection of short-lived transient intermediates.
LSV and CV techniques were proposed at the
beginning of the 1950s and in those years some theoretical
approaches able to rationalize the simplest
responses were worked out. 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 will briefly survey the analytical performance
of these techniques, as well as the criteria
followed to gain information regarding participants
in electrochemical processes from the recorded responses.
