Hey Fred.
Indeed, the ~1/2v drop across the cathode face is sufficient to crush water molecules flat and reduce their permittivity from ~80 to ~6. Supercaps would be Superdupercaps if not for this effect. Huge gradients are the norm at such thin interfacial layers.
K.
FWIW, the molecules do not flatten.
And the dielectric constant (the real part of the complex permittivity which you mention)
is due to inscription of L-D defects in the oxygen lattice. One also observes
this change at higher frequencies and in other water Ice phases where the inscription
length of the LD defects shortens.
Swartz. M., "Dances with Protons - Ferroelectric Inscriptions in
Water/Ice Relevant to Cold Fusion and Some Energy Systems",
Infinite Energy, 44, (2002).
Dr. Mitchell Swartz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
