DOUBLE LAYER

double layer: translation

The zone adjacent to a charged particle in which the potential falls effectively to zero. An excess or deficiency of electrons on the surface (charge; not to be confused with the transmembrane potential) leads to an equivalent excess of ions of the opposite charge in the surrounding fluid. For most cells, that have negative charges, there will be an excess of cations immediately adjacent to the plasma membrane, and at physiological ionic strength the double layer is likely to be around 2-3nm thick.