Debye's relaxation frequency: A poor man's approach

We present a simple approach to introduce Debye's relaxation frequency. Our model is based on a kinetic equation at the electrodes, describing the time variation of the ionic charge pushed at the limiting surfaces by the effective electric field. In a first approximation the surface region where the ions are confined is assumed of negligible thickness. We show that this approximation allows to define a frequency at which the effective resistance of the sample begins to decrease. This frequency coincides with Debye's relaxation frequency. An equivalent electric circuit describing the frequency dependence of the effective impedance of the cell, valid in this approximation, is presented. In a second approximation we discuss the influence of a perfectly dielectric surface layer on the relaxation frequency, where the electrolytic cell is described by means of a Maxwell–Wagner system. The equivalent electrical circuit is discussed.