1. Distribution of counterions and interaction between two similarly charged dielectric slabs: Roles of charge discreteness and dielectric inhomogeneity
- Author
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Hossein Fazli, Narges Nikoofard, Farshid Mohammad-Rafiee, Weria Pezeshkian, and Davood Norouzi
- Subjects
Ions ,chemistry.chemical_classification ,Materials science ,Condensed matter physics ,Surface Properties ,Static Electricity ,FOS: Physical sciences ,Physics::Optics ,Membranes, Artificial ,Charge (physics) ,Dielectric ,Physics::Classical Physics ,Space (mathematics) ,Distribution (mathematics) ,Models, Chemical ,chemistry ,Biological Physics (physics.bio-ph) ,Physics::Plasma Physics ,Strong coupling ,Computer Simulation ,Physics - Biological Physics ,Counterion ,Complex fluid ,Electrostatic interaction - Abstract
The distribution of counterions and the electrostatic interaction between two similarly charged dielectric slabs is studied in the strong coupling limit. Dielectric inhomogeneities and discreteness of charge on the slabs have been taken into account. It is found that the amount of dielectric constant difference between the slabs and the environment, and the discreteness of charge on the slabs have opposing effects on the equilibrium distribution of the counterions. At small interslab separations, increasing the amount of dielectric constant difference increases the tendency of the counterions toward the middle of the intersurface space between the slabs and the discreteness of charge pushes them to the surfaces of the slabs. In the limit of point charges, independent of the strength of dielectric inhomogeneity, counterions distribute near the surfaces of the slabs. The interaction between the slabs is attractive at low temperatures and its strength increases with the dielectric constant difference. At room temperature, the slabs may completely attract each other, reach to an equilibrium separation, or have two equilibrium separations with a barrier in between, depending on the system parameters.
- Published
- 2012
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