I have synthesized a copper complex and I´d like to know if is Cu in oxidation state (I) or (II). Can I evaluate this parameter using cyclic voltammetry?
Why not using Faraday low? Make Cu deposit from your complex solution, by electrolysis. Measure deposit mass, current and time, and calculate the number of electrons involved in Cu ion reduction, by Faraday equation.
Using CV, if you start scanning from the open circuit potential (OCP), and see the Cu(I)/Cu(II) electron transfer at a potential lower that the OCP, then most of your Cu is Cu(II). On the other hand, if the aforementioned electron transfer is at a potential that is higher than the OCP, then most of your Cu is Cu(I). The further away your OCP is from the E½ of the Cu(I)/Cu(II) electron transfer, the more pronounced is the ratio between the two species.
You need to make sure that you are looking at the correct electron transfer, which you can identify by changing the concentration of your complex and looking at which point the current is changing proportional to the change in concentration.
Dear Tuomas, do you have any reference for this method? It appears make sense to me, but I'd like to have more confidence in use it. Cheers
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