A Practical Beginner’s Guide to Cyclic Voltammetry

TLDR

Cyclic voltammetry is popular, yet many students lack formal training and feel uncertain about how to begin. The paper offers a concise introduction to cyclic voltammetry to aid readers in data acquisition and interpretation. It presents practical tips, highlights common pitfalls, and supplies short training modules in the Supporting Information for hands‑on practice. Readers who grasp the basics can more readily access resources and accelerate their understanding of cyclic voltammetry.

Abstract

Despite the growing popularity of cyclic voltammetry, many students do not receive formalized training in this technique as part of their coursework. Confronted with self-instruction, students can be left wondering where to start. Here, a short introduction to cyclic voltammetry is provided to help the reader with data acquisition and interpretation. Tips and common pitfalls are provided, and the reader is encouraged to apply what is learned in short, simple training modules provided in the Supporting Information. Armed with the basics, the motivated aspiring electrochemist will find existing resources more accessible and will progress much faster in the understanding of cyclic voltammetry.