Micelle formation by ionic surfactants. IV. Electrostatic hydrophobic free energy from Stern-Gouy ionic double layer

1975 ◽  
Vol 79 (10) ◽  
pp. 1015-1022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dirk Stigter
Keyword(s):  
Free Energy ◽  
Double Layer ◽  
Micelle Formation ◽  
Ionic Surfactants ◽  
Ionic Double Layer

scholarly journals Debye-Hückel Free Energy of an Electric Double Layer with Discrete Charges Located at a Dielectric Interface

Membranes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 129
Author(s):  
Guilherme Volpe Bossa ◽  
Sylvio May
Keyword(s):  
Free Energy ◽  
Double Layer ◽  
Electric Double Layer ◽  
Low Dielectric Constant ◽  
Surface Charges ◽  
Dielectric Interface ◽  
Charge Densities ◽  
Low Dielectric ◽  
Poisson Boltzmann ◽  
The Continuum

Poisson–Boltzmann theory provides an established framework to calculate properties and free energies of an electric double layer, especially for simple geometries and interfaces that carry continuous charge densities. At sufficiently small length scales, however, the discreteness of the surface charges cannot be neglected. We consider a planar dielectric interface that separates a salt-containing aqueous phase from a medium of low dielectric constant and carries discrete surface charges of fixed density. Within the linear Debye-Hückel limit of Poisson–Boltzmann theory, we calculate the surface potential inside a Wigner–Seitz cell that is produced by all surface charges outside the cell using a Fourier-Bessel series and a Hankel transformation. From the surface potential, we obtain the Debye-Hückel free energy of the electric double layer, which we compare with the corresponding expression in the continuum limit. Differences arise for sufficiently small charge densities, where we show that the dominating interaction is dipolar, arising from the dipoles formed by the surface charges and associated counterions. This interaction propagates through the medium of a low dielectric constant and alters the continuum power of two dependence of the free energy on the surface charge density to a power of 2.5 law.

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