The effect of electric field on capillary waves at the interface of two immiscible electrolytes

The effect of electric field on the corrugation of the interface between two immiscible electrolytes is theoretically studied within the linearized Poisson–Boltzmann approximation. It is shown that charging of the interface leads to an enhancement of the surface corrugation, which may cause a destruction of the interface by a sufficiently strong field. Dependencies of the mean-square height of corrugation on the overall potential drop across the interface V and on the ionic concentrations in the two electrolytes are analyzed. Predictions amenable to experimental tests are discussed.