Communications: Monovalent ion condensation at the electrified liquid/liquid interface

Abstract

X-ray reflectivity studies demonstrate the condensation of a monovalent ion at the electrified interface between electrolyte solutions of water and 1,2-dichloroethane. Predictions of the ion distributions by standard Poisson-Boltzmann (Gouy-Chapman) theory are inconsistent with these data at higher applied interfacial electric potentials. Calculations from a Poisson-Boltzmann equation that incorporates a nonmonotonic ion-specific potential of mean force are in good agreement with the data.