Simulating the structure and effect of the electrical double layer at nanometre electrodes

A computer simulation of the structure and effect of an electrical double layer (EDL) is presented. Without applying electroneutrality and Boltzmann distributions, the problem is solved based on the Poisson, Nernst-Plank and Butler-Volmer equations along with a continuous function depicting the relative permittivity of the compact layer. The results show that the EDL will alter electron transfer and current response at nanometre electrodes. This effect will be magnified either as the reactant charge valence increases or when no supporting electrolyte is present in the solution, and it will be influenced by changes in both the relative permittivity and the thickness of the compact layer. This work will help pave the way for future investigation of the effect of the EDL on electron transfer at nanometre electrodes (single or in arrays) in complex systems such as fuel cells and biosensors.