Diffusive propagation of chemical waves through a microgap

A photolithographic method was developed for micropatterning of catalyst (f erroin) for the Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction on a cation-exchange mem brane. The propagation of chemical waves through microgaps on a catalyst li ne was quantitatively investigated. When a periodic train of: chemical wave s entered a microgap, the frequency of the chemical waves was converted int o lower frequencies such as 1/2, 1/3, and 1/4 of the original frequency dep ending on the gap width. The firing number depended on the gap width and th e original frequency of the chemical waves. The frequency conversion is exp lained in terms of the recovery time of the BZ reaction media.