Cyclic voltammetry reduction/oxidation potential evaluation

Electrochemically active compounds can be evaluated using a potentiometer to generate a cyclic voltammogram for the analyte. Cyclic voltammetry will allow the analyst to determine whether the compound can be oxidized or reduced, to choose the appropriate potential to use in the electrochemical detector, and to establish whether oxidation or reduction is irreversible. Irreversible oxidation or reduction of the analyte could be predictive of problems with electrode poisoning and reduced sensitivity of the electrochemical detector over time. Turberg et al. used EC detection at an applied potential of -1-600 mV to analyze for ractopamine. 

Often the first step in the electrochemical characterization of a compound is to ascertain its oxidation-reduction reversibility. In our opinion, cyclic voltammetry is the most convenient and reliable technique for this and related qualitative characterizations of a new system, although newer forms of pulse polarography may prove more suitable for quantitative determination of the electrochemical parameters. The discussion in Chapter 3 outlines the specific procedures and relationships. The next step in the characterization usually is the determination of the electron stoichiometry of the oxidation-reduction steps of the compound. Controlled-potential coulometry (discussed in Chapter 3) provides a rigorously quantitative means for such evaluations. 

The cyclic voltammetries (CV) of aU the polymers in thin films were measured to evaluate their electronic energy level (Fig. 2.6). Most of the polymers showed much stronger oxidative peaks than their reductive ones, almost one order of magnitude higher, which indicated that the polymers were more easily oxidized. All the polymers showed similar reductive potentials with LUMO levels around... 

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