Electric-double-layer structure close to the three-phase contact line in an electrolyte wetting a solid substrate

Aaron Dörr and Steffen Hardt
Phys. Rev. E 86, 022601 – Published 27 August 2012

Abstract

The electric-double-layer structure in an electrolyte close to a solid substrate near the three-phase contact line is approximated by considering the linearized Poisson-Boltzmann equation in a wedge geometry. The mathematical approach complements the semianalytical solutions reported in the literature by providing easily available characteristic information on the double-layer structure. In particular, the model contains a length scale that quantifies the distance from the fluid-fluid interface over which this boundary influences the electric double layer. The analysis is based on an approximation for the equipotential lines. Excellent agreement between the model predictions and numerical results is achieved for a significant range of contact angles. The length scale quantifying the influence of the fluid-fluid interface is proportional to the Debye length and depends on the wall contact angle. It is shown that for contact angles approaching 90 there is a finite range of boundary influence.

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  • Received 27 June 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.86.022601

©2012 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Aaron Dörr and Steffen Hardt*

  • Institute for Nano- and Microfluidics, Center of Smart Interfaces, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Petersenstraße 32, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany

  • *hardt@csi.tu-darmstadt.de

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Issue

Vol. 86, Iss. 2 — August 2012

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