Diffuse-Layer Capacitance at the Potential of Zero Charge in Binary Mixtures

Abstract

The capacitance of the electric double layer has potential applications in supercapacitors, and theoretical investigations of the double-layer capacitance in binary mixtures are important. In this work, we develop the theory of the electric double layer in binary mixtures, and the diffuse-layer capacitance at the potential of zero charge is obtained analytically. Furthermore, we observe a divergence of the capacitance in the phase diagram, suggesting a surface instability. The obtained capacitance is different from that derived using single-liquid approximation unless the preferential solvation energies of cations and anions are the same. When the system is close to the surface instability line, the capacitance strongly deviates from the results of single-liquid approximation.

7 pages, 3 figures

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