Electrode effects in dielectric spectroscopy of colloidal suspensions

We present a simple model to account for electrode polarization in colloidal suspensions. Apart from correctly predicting the omega(-3/2) dependence for the dielectric permittivity at low frequencies omega, the model provides an explicit dependence of the effect on electrode spacing. The predictions are tested for the sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) water-in-oil microemulsion with iso-octane as continuous phase. In particular, the dependence of electrode polarization effects on electrode spacing has been measured and is found to be in accordance with the model prediction. Methods to reduce or account for electrode polarization are briefly discussed.