Structure of the mercury/ethylene carbonate interface. Part 1.—Variation in double layer capacity with the nature of the electrolyte

Abstract

Differential capacity-potential data for the mercury/solution interface for various 1–1 electrolyte solutions in ethylene carbonate at 40°C are presented and compared with data obtained with other aprotic solvents. It is shown that ionic specific adsorption is absent in the case of KPF₆ solutions, the capacity hump observed at anodic potentials being attributed to reorientation of solvent molecules in the inner layer. Inner layer capacity data for this case are presented and discussed in terms of the statistical mechanical model of the inner layer by Levine, Bell and Smith.