Stability of dipolar fluid membranes

(Received 29 October 1991, accepted 20 January 1992)

Abstract
We determine the electrostatic contribution to the elastic bending moduli of an insulating fluid membrane composed of either permanent, or field induced dipoles oriented along the normal directors of the surface. Using Debye-Hückel screening theory, we show that in contrast to the uniformly charged membrane the bending rigidity becomes softened by the electrostatic interaction.