Abstract:

This article reviewed recent progresses in the design of a new class of chemical oscillators and developed a generic model that could qualitatively reproduce those photochemical oscillations seen in experiments. The two oscillators discussed in this report are based on the photolysis of 1,4-benzoquinone and its derivatives, in which external illumination is vital in initiating and sustaining the reaction processes. Nonlinear behavior in these two photo-controlled chemical oscillators are analyzed as a function of light intensity and the initial concentration of reagents including 1,4-benzoquinone, 1,4-hydroquinone, 2-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone, bromate, and sulfuric acid. A generic model proposed initially for the uncatalyzed bromate-aromatic compound reactions was modified here to account for the photolysis of 1,4-benzoquinone or 2-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone. The modified model qualitatively reproduced chemical oscillations and their dependence on light intensity.

Key words: Autocatalytic reaction, Chemical oscillation, Nonlinear feedback, Photochemistry