Effects of Boundaries on Pattern Formation: Catalytic Oxidation of CO on Platinum

• DOI: 10.1126/science.264.5155.80
• Publication Date: 2006-10-06T00:01:25Z
• Authors: M. D. Graham; Ioannis G. Kevrek...; K. Asakura; J. Lauterbach; K. Krischer; H.-H. Rotermund; G. Ertl
• Keywords: Photolithography; Single-crystal platinum; Membrane Science; Catalysis and Reaction Engineering; Chemical Engineering; 540; 01 natural sciences; Engineering; Polycrystalline foils; 0103 physical sciences; Pattern formation; Catalyst; Reaction-diffusion

The effect of boundaries on pattern formation was studied for the catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide on platinum surfaces. Photolithography was used to create microscopic reacting domains on polycrystalline foils and single-crystal platinum (110) surfaces with inert titanium overlayers. Certain domain geometries give rise to patterns that have not been observed on the untreated catalyst and bring to light surface mechanisms that have no analog in homogeneous reaction-diffusion systems.