Stern model of the double layer

It is important to stress that the activity coefficients (and the concentrations) in equation 16.18 refer to the species close to the surface of the electrode, and so can be very different from the values in the bulk solution. This is portrayed in figure 16.6, which displays the Stern model of the double layer [332], One (positive) layer is formed by the charges at the surface of the electrode the other layer, called the outer Helmholtz plane (OHP), is created by the solvated ions with negative charge. Beyond the OHP, the concentration of anions decreases until it reaches the bulk value. Although more sophisticated double-layer models have been proposed [332], it is apparent from figure 16.6 that the local environment of the species that are close to the electrode is distinct from that in the bulk solution. Therefore, the activity coefficients are also different. As these quantities are not... 

Figure 16.6 The Stern model of the double layer. The outer Helmholtz plane (OHP) and the width of the diffusion layer (8) are indicated. The shaded circles represent solvent molecules. The drawing is not to scale The width of the diffusion layer is several orders of magnitude larger than molecular sizes.

Substituting from equations (7.16), (7.15) and (7.8) into equation (7.17) gives a complete expression for the Stern model of the double layer ... 

Fig. 3.7 The Stern model of the double layer, (a) Arrangement of the ions in a compact and a diffuse layer (b) Variation of the electrostatic potential, cf>, with distance, x, from the electrode (c) Variation of Cd with potential.

The inner layer is a concept within the framework of the classical Gouy-Chap-man-Stern model of the double layer [57]. Recent statistical-mechanical treatments of electrical double layers taking account of solvent dipoles has revealed a microscopic structure of inner layer" and other intriguing features, including pronounced oscillation of the mean electrostatic potential in the vicinity of the interface and its insensitivity at the interface to changes in the salt concentration [65-69]. 

K.B. Oldham, A Gouy-Chapman-Stern model of the double layer at a metal ionic liquid interface,... 

In order to arrive at a further and more quantitative interpretation of charge and adsorption of ions it is necessary to consider a rather detailed model of the double layer. It has already been mentioned that the simple Gouy picture leads to inconsistencies and that it is necessary to take account of the finite dimensions of the ions by the Stern theory or a modification of it. 

The physical meaning of the g" (ion) potential depends on the accepted model of ionic double layer. The proposed models correspond to the Gouy Chapman diffuse layer, with or without allowance for the Stern modification and/or the penetration of small counterions above the plane of the ionic heads of the adsorbed large ions [17,18]. The presence of adsorbed Langmuir monolayers may induce very high changes of the surface potential of water. For example. A/" shifts attaining ca. —0.9 (hexadecylamine hydrochloride), and ca. -bl.OV (perfluorodecanoic acid) have been observed [68]. 

Gouy-Chapman, Stern, and triple layer). Methods which have been used for determining thermodynamic constants from experimental data for surface hydrolysis reactions are examined critically. One method of linear extrapolation of the logarithm of the activity quotient to zero surface charge is shown to bias the values which are obtained for the intrinsic acidity constants of the diprotic surface groups. The advantages of a simple model based on monoprotic surface groups and a Stern model of the electric double layer are discussed. The model is physically plausible, and mathematically consistent with adsorption and surface potential data. 

The representation of the data for TiC in terms of the monoprotic surface group model of the oxide surface and the basic Stern model of the electric double layer is shown in Figure 5. It is seen that there is good agreement between the model and the adsorption data furthermore, the computed potential Vq (not shown in the figure) is almost Nernstian, as is observed experimentally. 

The variation of the electric potential in the electric double layer with the distance from the charged surface is depicted in Figure 6.2. The potential at the surface ( /o) linearly decreases in the Stem layer to the value of the zeta potential (0- This is the electric potential at the plane of shear between the Stern layer (and that part of the double layer occupied by the molecules of solvent associated with the adsorbed ions) and the diffuse part of the double layer. The zeta potential decays exponentially from to zero with the distance from the plane of shear between the Stern layer and the diffuse part of the double layer. The location of the plane of shear a small distance further out from the surface than the Stem plane renders the zeta potential marginally smaller in magnitude than the potential at the Stem plane ( /5). However, in order to simplify the mathematical models describing the electric double layer, it is customary to assume the identity of (ti/j) and The bulk experimental evidence indicates that errors introduced through this approximation are usually small. 

From the discussion so far it can be appreciated that the Stern model of the electric double layer presents only a rough picture of what is undoubtedly a most complex situation. Nevertheless, it provides a good basis for interpretating, at least semiquantitatively, most experimental observations connected with electric double layer phenomena. In particular, it helps to account for the magnitude of... 

How did the Stern model get around the limitations of the double-layer or Gouy-Chapman model ... 

The model introduced by Stern (2), which is in best agreement with all experimental facts, combines a distribution of charges in a space charge layer (diffuse part of the double layer) and the Helmholtz layer (rigid part of the double layer). Ions are assumed to be adsorbed on the electrode and thus bound to the surface by chemical forces. If strongly adsorbed ions are present at the interface, the rigid double layer predominates in determining the electrical properties of the interface. 

Stem s Theory of the Double Layer.—The variations of capacity of the double layer with the conditions, the influence of electrolytes on the zeta-potential, and other considerations led Stern to propose a model for the double layer which combines the essential characteristics of the Helmholtz and the Gouy theories. According to Stern the double layer consists of two parts one, which is approximately of a molecular diame r in thickness, Is supposed to remain fixed to the surface, while ihe other is anlttfuse layer extending for me distance into tlie solution The fall of potential in the fixed layer is sharp while that in the diffuse layer is gradual, the decrease being exponential in nature, as required by equation (5). 

Fig. 10.14 Schematic diagram of the double layer according to the Gouy-Chapman-Stern-Grahame model. The metal electrode has a net negative charge and solvated monatomic cations define the inner boundary of the diffuse layer at the outer Helmholtz plane (oHp).

Figure 12. Diagram of inner region of the double layer showing outer Helmholtz (OHP) plane with oriented solvent dipoles interacting with electrostatically adsorbed solvated ions [schematic based on Stern-Grahame model (Ref. 95) BDM model (Ref. 60) includes an extra layer of solvent dipoles between the metal surface and OHP of cations].

Stern 1 has therefore altered the model underlying the double layer theory for a solid wall by dividing the liquid charge into two parts. One part is thought of as a layer of ions adsorbed to the wall, and is represented in the theory by a surface charge concentrated in a plane at a small distance 5... 

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