Lecturer: David Andelman, School of Physics, Tel Aviv University, Israel
 Abstract:
The Poisson-Boltzmann theory stems from the pioneering works of Debye and Onsager and is
considered even today as the benchmark of ionic solutions and electrified interfaces. It has
been instrumental during the last century in predicting charge distributions and interactions
between charged surfaces, membranes, electrodes, macromolecules, and colloids. The
electrostatic model of charged fluids, on which the Poisson-Boltzmann description rests and its
statistical mechanical consequences have been scrutinized in great detail. Much less, however,
is understood about its probable shortcomings when dealing with various aspects of real
physical, chemical, and biological systems. After reviewing the Poisson-Boltzmann theory, I will
discuss several recent extensions and modifications as applied to ions and macromolecules in
solutions. These novel ideas include the effect of dipolar solvent molecules, finite size of ions,
ionic specificity, surface tension, charge regulation of ionizable groups and conductivity of
concentrated ionic solutions.