Date of Submission

Spring 2012

Academic Program

Chemistry

Project Advisor 1

Christopher LaFratta

Project Advisor 2

James Belk

Abstract/Artist's Statement

Chemical oscillating reactions are of interest to researchers because they provide a unique way to create self-assembling patterns. The Briggs-Rauscher (BR) reaction is one such reaction that displays oscillating colors from amber to deep blue several times as the concentrations of iodine and iodide change. This oscillating reaction was modeled using ordinary differential equations. Experiments were also performed to generate novel patterns. To provide more control over the BR reaction, a Wet Stamping Technique (WETS) was used, where two gels were soaked with appropriate reagents and then pressed together to initiate the reaction. The oscillations depended on spatial as well as temporal variables. The reaction takes place on gels that are molded on microstructured polymer films, which were made using a laser. The patterned gels limit where the reaction can take place and result in reaction waves that interfere with one another creating complex patterns.

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