Cyclic Voltammetry

Peter T. Kissinger
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
William R. Heineman
University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221
Cyclic voltammetry (CV) is perhaps the most versatile
electroanalytical technique for the study of electroactive
species. Its versatility d i n e d with ease of measurement has
resulted in extensive use of CV in the fields of electrochemistrv.
.. inorganic chemistrv... organic chemistrv,.. and hiochemistry. Cyclic voltammetry is often the first experiment performed in an electrochemical studv of a com~ound,a bioloaical material, or an electrode surface. The effectiveness of cv
results from its capability for rapidly observing the redox
behavior over a wide potential range. The resulting voltammogram is analogous to a conventional spectrum in that it
conveys information as a function of an energy scan.
In spite of the wide usage enjoyed by CV, this technique is
not generally well understood in comparison to other instrumental methods such as spectroscopy and chromatography.
I t is not uncommon for the experimenter who is performing
CV to have a poor understanding of the basic concepts of the
technique, such as why the voltammograms have their peculiar shapes. The brief treatment afforded CV in most instrumental analysis textbooks is insufficient to convey an in-depth
understanding of this powerful technique.
It is the purpose of this article to provide a description of
CV and its capabilities. The authors intend this to he suitable
for a suoolement
to an undereraduate course in instrumental
..
analysis ur asan "initial reference" ior anyone embarking on
a CV exoeriment for the first time. This article is accomuanied
by an eiperiment which has been developed to demonstrate
important features of CV.'

Fundamentals of Cyclic Voltammetry

CV consists of cycling the potential of an electrode, which
is immersed in an unstirred solution, and measuring the resulting current. The potential of this working electrode is
controlled versus a reference electrode such as a saturated
calomel electrode (SCE) or a silverlsilver chloride electrode
(AgIAgCl). The controlling potential which is applied across
these two electrodes can he considered an excitation signal.
The excitation signal for CV is a linear potential scan with a
triangular waveform as shown in Figure 1. This triangular
potential excitation signal sweeps the potential of the electrode between two values, sometimes called the switching
potentials. The excitation signal in Figure 1causes the potential first to scan negatively from +0.80 to -0.20 V versus
SCE a t which point the scan direction is reversed, causing a
positive scan hack to the original potential of +0.80 V. The
scan rate, as reflected by the slope, is 50 mV/s. A second cycle
is indicated by the dashed line. Single or multiple cycles can

' The experiment to accompany this article appears on page 772

of this issue.

702

Journal of Chemical Education

TIME, s
Figwe 1. Typ.cal excnat on sigMl facyclic voltammeby-a u angu ar potential
wa~efwmwith switching polenti~lsa1 0 8 and -0.2 V versus SCE.
he used. Modern instrumentation enables switchingpotentials
and scan rates to he easilv varied.
A cyclic voltammogram is obtained by measuring the current a t the working electrode during the potential scan. The
current can he considered the response signal to the potential
excitation sienal. The voltammoaram is a disolav of current
(vertical axis7 versus potential (hbrizontal axis). because the
potential varies linearly with tinie, the horizontal axis can also
be thought of as a time axis. This is helpful in understanding
the fundamentals of the technique.
A typical cyclic voltammogram is shown in Figure 2 for a
platinum working electrode in a solution containing 6.0 mM
K3Fe(CN)~as the electroactive species in 1.0 M KN03 in
water as the supporting electrolyte. The potential excitation
signal used to obtain this voltammogram is that shown in
Figure 1, hut with a negative switching potential of -0.15 V.
Thus, the vertical axis in Figure 1is now the horizontal axis
for Figure 2. The initialpotential ( E J of 0.80 V applied a t (a)
is chosen to avoid any electrolysis of Fe(Cii)e3- when the
electrode is switched on. The potential is then scanned negatiuely, forward scan, as indicated by the arrow. When the
potential is sufficiently negative to reduce FeIt1(CN)e3-,cathodic current is indicated at (h) due to the electrode process
~~

~~

Fe11t(CN)63-+ e

Fe"(CN)c4-

(1)

The electrode is now a sufticiently strong reductant to reduce

Fe"'(CN),;'-.The cathodic current increases rapidly (I,- d)
until the cmcentration of Fel"KN),;"- at the electrode surface
is substantially diminished, causing the current to peak (d).
The current then decays (d g) as the solution surrounding

that occur in solution adjacent to the electrode during electrolysis. The potential excitation signal exerts control of the
ratio of Fe"l(CN)l;'-!Fell(CN)~ a t the electrode surface as
described by the Nernst equation for a reversihle system

where E"' is the formal reduction potential of the couple. An

initial value of E which is sufficiently positive of Eo'maintains
a ratio in which Fe"YCN),j" greatly predominates. Thus,
application of +0.80 V as the initial potential causes negligible
current. However, as E is scanned negatively, conversion of
FeI1'(CN),;:'- to Fe"(CN)fi4- by reduction is mandatory for
satisfaction of the Nernst equation. The ratios of iron redox
states that must exist a t the electrude surface a t several potentials during the scan are shown on the lower horizontal axis
in Figure 2. The logarithmic relationship hetween E and
[Fe11i(CN)6:'-I/[Fe11(CN)&] is reflected by a rapid rate of
change in the region where E = Eo',i.e., [Fe"'(CN)i"]I
[Fe"(CN)64-] = 1. This causes the dramatic rise in cathodic
current (b d) during the forward scan.
The physicalsituation in the solution adjacent to tbeelectrode during the votential scan is illustrated bv the concen-

POTENTIAL, V versus SCE

I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
5 6 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 - 3 -1 - 5

LOG

FPICNI;~

Fe" (C N-1:

Figure 2. Cyclic voltammogram of 6 mMK,Fe(CN)s in 1 M KN03. Scan initiated

at 0.8 V versus SCE in negativedirection at 50 m V / s Platinumelectrode.area

= 2.54 mm2.

the electrode is depleted of FelI1(CN)& due to its electrolytic

conversion to Fe"(CN)G4-. The scan direction is switched to
positive a t -0.15 V (f) for the reverse scan. The potential is
still sufficiently negative to reduce Fe111(CN)6:<-,
so cathodic
current continues even though the potential is now scanning
in the positive direction. When the electrode becomes a sufficiently strong oxidant, Fe11(CN)fi4-,which has been aceumulating adjacent to the electrode, can now be oxidized by the
electrode process
Fe"(CN)sd-

Fel"(CN)s"

+e

(2)

This causes anodic current (i k). The anodic current rapidly increases until the surface concentration of Fe"(CN)fi4is diminished, causing the current to peak (j).The current then
decays (j k) as the solution surrounding the electrode is
depleted of Fe11(CN)c,4-.The first cycle is completed when the
potential reaches +0.80 V. Now that the cyclic voltammogram
is obtained, it is apparent that any potential positive of +0.4
V would be suitable as an initial potential in that reduction
of FelI'(CN)& would not occur when the potential is applied.
This procedure avoids inadvertent electrolysis as a result of
applying the initial potential.
Simply stated, in the forward scan Fe"(CN)64 is electrochemically generated from FeU'(CN)& as indicated by the
cathodic current. In the reverse scan this Fe"(CN)n4- is oxidized hack to FeU1(CN)& as indicated by the anodic current.
Thus. CV is caoahle of rapidly generating a new oxidation

he illustrated in the section on coupled chemical reactions.

A more detailed understanding can be gained by considering the Nernst equation and the changes in concentration

iration of how solution concentration (C) varies as a function

of distance (x) from the electrode surface.
The C-x profiles in Figure 3a are for FelLL(CN)& and
FeI1(CN)e4- a t the initial potential. Note that the application
of E ; does not measurably alter the concentration of
Fe111(CN)e3-a t the electrode surface as compared to the solution hulk. As the potential is scanned negatively, the concentration of FelI1(CN)i" a t the electrode surface decreases
in order to establish an Fell'(CN)fi"-/Fell(CN)s" ratio which
satisfies the Nernst equation for the applied potential a t any
particular instant. This is illustrated by profiles c-e. Note that
profile (c) (for which the concentration of FeI1'(CN)& a t the
electrode surface exactly equals the concentration of
Fe"(CN)64- corresponds to an E which equals the formal
electrode potential (versus SCE) of the couple.
Profiles (e, g) correspond to potentials sufficientlynegative
of the formal electrode potential that the concentration of
FeI1I(CN)& is effectively zero a t the electrode surface. The
conditions for these profiles are analogous to those for cbronoamperometry ( 1 , Z ) . Once the potential has reached a value
sufficient for a zero reactant-surface-concentration, the potential and its rate of change become immaterial to the diffusion-controlled current. In other words, should the scan be
stopped a t (el, the current will follow the same time course as
if the scan had been continued.
The behavior of the current during the potential scan can
he understood by carefully examining the C-x profiles in
Figure 3. The current is proportional to the slope of the C-x
profile a t the electrode surface as described by

where i is current (A), n is number of electrons transferred per

ion (equivalentslmol), A is electrode area (cm2),D is diffusion
coefficient (cmVs), C is concentration (molicm"), and x is
distance from the electrode icm). Thus. the current observed
at a particular potential for the voltammogram in Figure 2 can
be exulained hv the s h o e ofthe corresvondin~C-x vrofile in
Figure 3. The slope of profile (a) is zero and current is negligible a t that potential. As the potential is then scanned negatively, ( a C l a ~ ) , =increases
~
for profiles ic-d), and the cathodic current in Figure 2 increases correspondingly. However,
when profile (d) is reached, (dClax),=,, decreases as shown by
profiles (e) and (g) because of depletion of Fefl'(CN),j" near
the electrode. Correspondingly, the current now drops. Thus,
the ohserved current behavior for the voltammogram is an
Volume 60 Number 9

September 1983

703

concentration (moVcm3),and u is scan rate (V/s). Accordingly,

i, increases with u1/2 and is directly proportional to concentration. The relationship to concentration is particularly
important in analytical applications and in studies of electrode
mechanisms. The values of ips and i,should be identical for
a simple reversihle (fast) couple. That is

DISTANCE
F l g m 3. C a n e i i s t a n c e ( G x ) prafilesfacyclic v&arnmqpam in Figwe
2.

increase to apeak current at which point the current decays

due to depletion of electroactive species near the electrode.
During the negative scan in which Fe"'(CN)& is reduced
to Fe"(CN)e4-, the depletion of FeI1'(CN)& in the vicinity
of the electrode is accompanied by an accumulation of
Fe"(CN)&. This can he seen by the C-x profiles for
Fen(CN)64-. After the direction of potential scan is switched
at -0.15 V to a positive scan, reduction continues (as is evident
by the cathodic current and the C-x profile) until the applied
potential becomes sufficiently positive to cause oxidation of
the accumulated F~"(CN)G~-.
Oxidation of F ~ " ( C N ) G ~issignaled by the appearance of anodic current. Once again, the
current increases as the votential moves increasinelv vositive
until the cuncentration;,f Fe"tCNkl- becomes & h d at
the electrode. At this mint the current ~ e a kand
s then berins
to decrease. Thus, the physical phenomena which causid a
current peak during the reduction cycle also cause a current
peak during the oxidation cycle. This can be seen by comparing the C-x profiles for the two scans.
The important parameters of a cyclic voltammogram are
the magnitudes of the anodic peak current (i,) and cathodic
peak current (i,), and the anodic peak potential (EPJ and
cathodic peak potential (E,). These parameters are labeled
in Figure 2. One method for measuring i, involves extrapolation of a baseline current as shown in the figure. The establishment of a correct baseline is essential for the accurate
measurement of peak currents. This is not always easy, particularly for more complicated systems.
A redox couple in which both species rapidly exchange
electrons with the working electrode is termed an electrochemically reversible couple. The formal reduction potential
(En') for a reversihle couple is centered between Eps and
Epc.

The number of electrons transferred in the electrode reaction (n) for a reversihle couple can he determined from the
separation between the peak potentials

However, the ratio of peak currents can be significantly influenced by chemical reactions coupled to the electrode process, as discussed below.
Electrochemical irreversibility is caused by slow electron
exchange of the redox species with the working electrode. In
this case eqns. (51, (61,( I ) ,and (8) are not applicable. Electrochemical irreversibility is characterized by a separation of
peak potentials greater than indicated by eqn. (6)( 1 , 3 ) .
Effect of Coupled Chemical Reactions
There are inorganic ions, metal complexes, and a few organic compounds which undergo electron transfer reactions
without the making or breaking of covalent bonds. The vast
majority of electrochemical reactions involve an electron
transfer step which leads to a species which rapidly reacts with
components of the medium via so-called coupled chemical
reactions. One of the most useful aspects of CV is its application to the qualitative diagnosis of these homogeneous
chemical reactions that are coupled to the electrode surface
reaction (1,4-7). CV provides the capability for generating
a species during the forward scan and then probing its fate
with the reverse scan and subsequent cycles, all in a matter
of seconds or less. In addition, the time scale of the experiment
is adjustable over several orders of magnitude by changing the
potential scan rate, enabling some assessment of the rates of
various reactions.
A detailed review of this aspect of CV cannot he accommodated in this brief article. We have chosen two examples
which illustrate the chemistry associated with reducing an
aromatic nitro comvound in a weak acid buffer and oxidiziue
an arumatic ether in aqueow mrdiu of iow pH. ~ o t h e n a m ~ l e i
illustrate reactions which arr paralleled t ~ vmanv hundred.i
of compounds readily available for use IV' undergraduate
laboratories. Both involve the use of very inexvensive electrodes and convenient media. It should he voted that a great
deal of modern electrochemistw is carried out using hiahlv
purified nonaqueoussolvents which can he quite cos~lyrand
often toxic) and are not recommended for the heainner.
A cyclic voltammogram for the popular antibiotic chloramphenicol is illustrated in Figure 4. The scan was started in
a negative direction from 0.0 volts. Three peaks are observed,
peak A for the initial reduction, peak B for oxidation of a
product of this reduction, and peak C for reduction of the
product resulting from the events accounting for peak B. All
three "peaks" or "waves" involve more than a simple electron
transfer reaction.
peak A

R 6 N 0 2 + 4e

Thus, a one-electron process such as the reduction of

Fenl(CN)& to Fe"(CNh4- exhibits a hE, of 0.059 V. Slow
electron transfer at the electrode surface, "irreversibility,"
causes the peak separation to increase.
The peak current for a reversible system is described by the
Randles-Sevcik equation for the forward sweep of the first
cycle ( l , 2 )

where ip is peak current (A), n is electron stoichiometry, A is

electrode area (cm2), D is diffusion coefficient (cm2/s), C is
704

Journal of Chemical Education

+ 4Ht

- RbNHOH + H 2 0

+ 2 H f + 2e

peak B

R$NHOH

RbNO

peak C
R$NO

+ 2e + 2Ht

R6NHOH

To assist in "proving" the diagnosis, authentic samples of the

hydroxylamine and nitroso derivative can he used to confirm
the assignment of peak B and C.
Thyronine is an ether which may conveniently he thought
of as representing the combination of the amino acid tyrosine

POTENTIAL, V versus AgIAgCI

Flgve 5. Cyclic voltamnogam of 5 ~ 1 2 ml
5 L-myrmine in 1 MH2S04.C a t m
paste electrode. scan rate = 200 mV/s.

0.8

0.1
0
-0.4 -0.8
POTENTIAL, V versus Ag/AgCI

Figure 4. Cyclic voltammogram of 3.3 mg/25 ml chiwamphenicol in 0.1 Macmate buffer, pH 4.62. Carbon paste electrode. Scan rate = 350 mV/s.

with hydroquinone. Its oxidative CV on a carbon paste electrode is illustrated in Figure 5. In this case the scan is initiated
in a positive direction from 0.0 volts. The initial two-electron
oxidation (peak A) generates a proton and an organic cation
which is readily hydrolyzed to benzoquinone and tyrosine.

Peak C

which is then oxidized hack to benzoquinone a t peak D on the

second positive-going half-cycle.
0

Peak D

Standard solutions of benzoquinone, hydroquinone, and tyrosine can he used to verify these assignments.
Interpreting complex cyclic voltammograms is often a
challenge best met by the combination of chemical intuition
with the study of model compounds, exactly in the same
manner used by many spectroscopists to interpret optical,
magnetic resonance, or mass spectra.

-.'+

j'
COOH

Peak A

The tyrosine thus produced is subsequently oxidized a t peak

B (no product from peak B is detected on the reverse scan).

Cyclic voltammetry requires a waveform generator to produce the excitation simal, a potentiostat to apply this signal
to an electrochemica~cell,acurrent-to-voltage convert& to
measure the resulting current, and an XY recorder or oscilloscope to display the voltammogram. The first three items
are normally incorporated into a single electronic device although modular instruments are also used. The potentiostat
insures that the working electrode potential will not be influenced by the reaction(s) which takes place. The functioning
of potentiostats has been described elsewhere (2). Data are
typically obtained via XY recorder a t slow scans, i.e., less than
WAVEFORM
GENERATOR

COOH

I
Coupling Products

RECORDER

CURRENT TO
VOLTAGE

Pealt B

The henzoquinone is reduced on the reverse scan a t peak C

to produce hydroquinone,

Figure 6. Instrumentstion for cyclic voltammeby. Electrode designation: S

working.
auxiliary,
reference.

Volume 60

Number 9

September 1983

705

Flgwe 7. ElectrDchemical cell for voltammetry.

aa little as 1-2 ml of solution. Thin-layer cells enable voltammograms to be recorded on down to 60 pL (8).
A large variety of working electrodes has been used with
voltammetry. The voltammetric techniques termed polarography utilize the dropping mercury electrode (DME). This
electrode consists of mercury drops continuously extruding
from the end of a capillary. The hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) is commonly used for CV. Here a drop of
mercury is suspended a t the end of a capillary. A thin coat of
mercury can he deposited on a substrate such as graphite to
form a mercury film electrode (MFE). A significant advantage
of mercury is its gwd negative potential range. Solid electrodes such as platinum, gold, glassy carbon, wax impregnated
graphite, and carbon paste are also commonly used in CV.
Such electrodes have a hetter positive potential range than
mercury.

Conclusions
500 mV/s, and storage oscilloscope a t faster rates. Scan rates
up to 20,000 V/s have been used, however, rates faster than
100 V/s are rarely practical because of iR drop and charging
current.
Modern potentiostats utilize a three-electrode configuration
as shown in Figure 6. The potentiostat applies the desired
potential between a working electrode and a reference electrode. The working electrode is the electrode at which the
electrolysis of interest takes place. The current required to
sustain the electrolvsis at the workine electrode is provided
by the auxiliary electrode. This arrangement
large
currents from passing through the reference electrode that
rould change 1;s potential.
A t\nlml elertrorhemirnl cell i i ~llustratedin Firure 7. Such
a cel<&ally consists of a glass container with ;cap having
holes for introducing electrodes and nitrogen. Provision is
made for oxygen removal from solution by bubbling with nitrogen gas. The cell is then maintained oxygen free by passing
nitrogen over the solution. The reference electrode is typically
a SCE or a AgIAgCI electrode which often is isolated from the
solution by a salt bridge to prevent contamination by leakage
from the reference electrode. The auxiliary electrode is usually
a platinum wire that is placed directly into the solution. Since
the limiting (or peak1 current in any type of voltammetry is
temperature-dependent, the cell should he thermostated for
the most exacting work. For most purposes, however, this is
not necessary. Cells are commercially available which require

706

Journal of Chemical Education

CV has become increasinelv

o o ~ u l a in
r all fields of chem-..
iatry as a means of studying redox states. The method enahles
a wide potential range to he scanned r a ~ i d l v f oreducihleor
r
oxidizable species. This capability togeiheiwith its variable
time scale and good sensitivity make this the most versatile
electroanalytic.d technique thus far developed. I t must,
however, be emphasized that its merits are largely in the realm
of qualitative-or "diagnostic" experimenis.-Quantitatve
measurements (of rates or concentrations) are best obtained
via other means (e.g., "step" or "pulse" techniques). Because
of the kinetic control of many CV experiments, some caution
is advisable when evaluating the results in terms of thermodynamic parameters, e.g., measurement of Eo'.
Perhaps the most useful aspect of CV is its application to
the qualitative diagnosis of electrode reactions which are
coupled to homogeneous chemical reactions. The forte of CV
is its ability to generate a species during one scan and then
probe its fate with subsequent scans.
A

Literature Cited
Wiley. New York, 1980.
(2) Kisainge.. P.T., Heineman. W. R. iEdito~a)."LaboraforyTeehniquainElecimmalytical Chemistry? Ookker, N s r York. in p m .
(31 Nicholsoo, R.S..Anal. Chem..S7,1351 11955).
(4) Nicha1son,R. S.,ShSl", I..Anal Chem.,%.706(19Nl.
(6) Nieho1son.R. S.,Shain.I.,Anal.Chem.37. llS(1965).
(61 Olmstead, M.L.. Hsmi1ton.R. G..Nicholaon.R.S..Anal.Chem.,11.26011959).
(71 Evana. D. H..Arc. Chrm Rsa. 10,313(1971).
(8) Jarbad, T. B.. Heineman, W. R.. Patriarche. G.d.. Aml. Chim. Aelo. 126.57 (19811.