Poisson-Boltzmann theory for two parallel uniformly charged plates

Abstract

We solve the nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann equation for two parallel and like-charged plates both inside a symmetric electrolyte, and inside a 2:1 asymmetric electrolyte, in terms of Weierstrass elliptic functions. From these solutions we derive the functional relation between the surface charge density, the plate separation, and the pressure between plates. For the one plate problem, we obtain exact expressions for the electrostatic potential and for the renormalized surface charge density, both in symmetric and in asymmetric electrolytes. For the two plate problems, we obtain new exact asymptotic results in various regimes.