Liquid water forms a structure in front of an electrode which is due t
o hydrogen bridge bonds between the molecules. This structure is remin
iscent of ice-like clusters and determines the polarizability (differe
ntial capacitance) of the interface and the approach of ions, which ha
ve to reach an accommodation with this persisting structure. These res
ults are derived from statistical mechanical calculations with integra
l equations for the central force model of water.