Approximate expression for the potential energy of the double-layer interaction between two parallel ion-penetrable membranes at small separations in an electrolyte solution

An approximate expression for the potential energy of the double-layer interaction between two parallel similar ion-penetrable membranes in a symmetrical electrolyte solution is derived via a linearization method, in which the nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann equations in the regions inside and outside the membranes are linearized with respect to the deviation of the electric potential from the Donnan potential. This approximation works quite well for small membrane separations h for all values of the density of fixed charges in the membranes (or the Donnan potential) and gives a correct limiting form of the interaction energy (or the interaction force) as h -> 0. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.