What is the main purpose of measuring current between electrodes in cyclic voltammetry?

The main purpose of measuring current between electrodes in cyclic voltammetry is to determine thermodynamic and kinetic properties of electrochemical reactions. In this technique, the current response is measured as a function of an applied potential, allowing researchers to extract valuable information about the redox behavior of the analyte.

When the voltage is varied, the current measured provides insight into the rates of electron transfer reactions, the stability of intermediates, and the thermodynamics of the redox processes occurring at the electrode surface. Analyzing the resulting current-voltage curves can reveal important characteristics such as peak current, peak potential, and half-wave potential, which are directly related to reaction kinetics and thermodynamic parameters like standard reduction potentials.

This method is not primarily designed for studying crystallization processes, visual characteristics of solutions, or evaluating electrical conductivity, as these aspects do not capture the intricate interplay of electron transfer kinetics and reaction thermodynamics central to electrochemical studies.