title: Criticality in confined ionic fluids.
abstract: A theory of a confined two-dimensional electrolyte is presented. The positive and negative ions, interacting by a 1/r potential, are constrained to move on an interface separating two solvents with dielectric constants epsilon(1) and epsilon(2). It is shown that the Debye-Hückel type of theory predicts that this two-dimensional Coulomb fluid should undergo a phase separation into a coexisting liquid (high-density) and gas (low-density) phases. We argue, however, that the formation of polymerlike chains of alternating positive and negative ions can prevent this phase transition from taking place.
authors: Facultad de Ciencias de la Electrónica, Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, AP J-48, Puebla 72570, Puebla, Mexico.
authors: J E
authors: JE
authors: Flores-Mena
authors: M C
authors: MC
authors: Barbosa
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Levin