Electric double layer capacitance of restricted primitive model for an ionic fluid in slit-like nanopores: A density functional approach

Abstract

We apply recently developed version of a density functional theory [Z. Wang, L. Liu, and I. Neretnieks, J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 23, 175002 (2011)] to study adsorption of a restricted primitive model for an ionic fluid in slit-like pores in the absence of interactions induced by electrostatic images. At present this approach is one of the most accurate theories for such model electric double layers. The dependencies of the differential double layer capacitance on the pore width, on the electrostatic potential at the wall, bulk fluid density, and temperature are obtained. We show that the differential capacitance can oscillate as a function of the pore width dependent on the values of the above parameters. The number of oscillations and their magnitude decrease for high values of the electrostatic potential. For very narrow pores, close to the ion diameter, the differential capacitance tends to a minimum. The dependence of differential capacitance on temperature exhibits maximum at different values of bulk fluid density and applied electrostatic potential.