Interfacial phenomena in charged membranes.

Potential distribution across a charged membrane is discussed on the basis of a model proposed by Ohshima and Ohki (Biophys.J., 47, 673 (1985)), which assumes that membrane-fixed charges are distributed through a surface layer of non-zero thickness and that electrolyte ions can penetrate into this layer.This model smoothly unites two different concepts-the surface potential and the Donnan potential.Interfacial phenomena-electrophoresis, ion binding, electrostatic interaction of membranes, and effects of non-uniform charge distribution-are considered along the lines of the above model.It is shown that the Donnan potential distribution plays an important role in these phenomena.