Thin layer analysis of a non-local model for the double layer structure (Q1993982)

The author analyzes boundary layer solutions to the thin electric double layer problem. The equation under consideration is a non-local elliptic equation, which is a steady state Poisson-Nernst-Planck equation. In particular, the author provides a pointwise description of the net charge density near the charged surface, as well as the effect of the charged surface curvature on thin electric double layer surfaces. It is shown that the net charge density behaves like a Dirac Delta concentrated at the boundary. Additionally, it is shown that significant curvature effects occur on the part of the boundary layer which is close to the boundary. Finally, a connection to electric double layer capacitance is provided -- it is shown that the electric double layer has higher capacitance in a thin region near the surface. Analysis using a perturbation parameter related to the Debye screening length is used. Other techniques employed in this analysis include Phozaev's identity and inverse Hölder type estimates.