Common surface potential of two different crystal planes

Abstract

Crystals have different planes of different structures. In contact with aqueous environment, they exhibit different behaviors and different interfacial equilibriums. Surface potentials of individual crystal planes could be measured with single-crystal electrodes. In reality, these planes are not separated but rather electrically connected through the bulk of the crystal so that common potential is established. The value of common potential lies between values of separated individual planes. In the equilibration process, one plane may dominate. The problem was considered by numerical simulation based on surface complexation model and experimentally. Discussion was extended to one surface with different active surface sites.