CHEMICALLY CONTROLLED PATTERN-FORMATION IN PHASE-SEPARATING MATERIALS

The role of chemical reactions in the selection of patterns in phase-s eparating mixtures is presented. Linearized theory and computer simula tion show that the initial long-wavelength instability characteristic of spinodal decomposition is suppressed by chemical reactions, which r estrict domain growth to intermediate length scales even in the late s tages of phase separation. Our findings suggest that chemical reaction s may provide a novel way to stabilize and tune the steady-state morph ology of phase-separating materials.