Physical Principles of the Statistical Theory of the Double Layer

Abstract

It was shown in the preceding Chapter that the accuracy of the Gouy-Chapman theory of electrostatic adsorption is not high enough for experimental data to be described satisfactorily, especially at high electrolyte concentrations and electrode potentials, in solvents of low dielectric permittivity, and in the case of multi-charged ions. The situation is even worse with the Stern theory of specific adsorption, which cannot be used in practice for it is not known how to determine the adsorption plane potential. Obviously, both these theories require further generalization and improvement, which cal only be done within the framework of a consistent statistical approach.