Potential Step Methods and Cyclic Voltammetry

Cyclic voltammetry is a powerful technique because the CV waveshape is sensitive to all the parameters of the electrochemical mechanism. For the same reasons, however, a full quantitative analysis with CV can be difficult. It is usually helpful if qualitative or quantitative information can be obtained from other sources. Potential step methods can play a complementary role to CV in the analysis of electrochemical mechanisms. This is because they can be performed under conditions of a fast and irreversible forward heterogeneous rate constant. 

The current response from singlenpotential step is often used to determine diffusion coefficients. In combination with cyclic voltammetry, both n and D can be determined. 

4 Time-Resolved Potential Step with Microelectrodes 

Fast potential step experiments have a great advantage over cyclic vol-tammetric methods with regard to the analysis of the EC mechanism. Analysis by CV is made difficult at high scan rates data are distorted as a result of separations due to IR drop and slow electrode kinetics. DPS has neither of these problems. 

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