Mesoscopic description of an electrochemical interface

Abstract

A theory describing mesoscopic equilibrium and near-equilibrium behavior of polar solutions near electrochemical interfaces is presented. It is based on an expression for the stress tensor found within the framework of a non-local Landau order parameter approach which takes into account the possibility of continuous surface phase transitions in the double layer. Some applications of the theory are discussed, including the generalization of the contact value theorem used in the theory of colloids and thin films and the interpretation of the singular behavior of the surface viscosity and capacitance.