Electric double layer theory for room temperature ionic liquids on charged electrodes: milestones and prospects

Abstract

In this review, we shortly summarize the basic theoretical milestones achieved in the mean-field theory of room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) on charged electrodes since the publication of Kornyshev's seminal paper in 2007. We pay special attention to the behavior of the differential capacitance profile and the microscopic parameters of ions that can have substantial influence on it. Among them are parameters of short-range specific interactions, ionic diameters, static polarizabilities, and permanent dipole moments. We also discuss the recent "nonlocal" mean-field theories that can describe the overscreening behavior of the local ionic concentrations, as well as the crossover from overscreening to crowding.