title: Ionic conductivity on a wetting surface.
abstract: Recent experiments measuring the electrical conductivity of DNA molecules highlight the need for a theoretical model of ion transport along a charged surface. Here we present a simple theory based on the idea of unbinding of ion pairs. The strong humidity dependence of conductivity is explained by the decrease in the electrostatic self-energy of a separated pair when a layer of water (with high dielectric constant) is adsorbed to the surface. We compare our prediction for conductivity to experiment and discuss the limits of its applicability.
authors.affiliation: Theoretical Physics Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Skinner
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Loth
authors.forename: B I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Shklovksii
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D007477:Ions / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D014867:Water