Interaction between an ion-penetrable particle and a solid particle. 1. Electrical double-layer interaction

Abstract

Expressions are derived for the force and potential energy of the electrical double layer interaction between two parallel plates of different nature, i. e., an ion-penetrable plate and an ion-impenetrable plate. The latter may have either constant surface potential or constant surface charge density. It is shown that when the ion-impenetrable plate has a constant surface potential, the interaction force may, under certain conditions, become attractive even if the surface potentials of the two plates at infinite separation are of the same sign. In contrast, when the ion-impenetrable plate has a constant surface charge density, the interaction force may, under certain conditions, become repulsive even if the two plates at infinite separation are of opposite sign. This means that an ion-penetrable plate shows a dual behavior. That is, under certain conditions, it behaves like a solid plate with constant surface potential or surface charge density, depending on whether it interacts with a solid plate having a constant surface potential or a constant surface charge density.