Electrochemistry

Differential capacitance data is one of the most widely used experimental quantities for characterizing the structure of electrolyte solutions near charged interfaces. Many studies have attempted to fit differential capacitance data to generalized Poisson-Boltzmann models, particularly to account for finite-volume, ion-crowding effects. We consider the inverse problem: the derivation of generalized Poisson-Boltzmann type free energies from prescribed differential capacitance data.

Understanding the electrical response of electrochemical convertors, such as fuel cells or batteries, involves elucidating the effect of the macroscopic voltage on the microscopic charge distribution at the electrode-electrolyte interface.