Gels (Aug 2024)

Co-Complexes-Based Self-Oscillating Gels Driven by the Belousov–Zhabotinsky Reaction

  • Ilya L. Mallphanov,
  • Michail Y. Eroshik,
  • Dmitry A. Safonov,
  • Anastasia I. Lavrova

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10090552
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 9
p. 552

Abstract

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We report the synthesis of novel cobalt complexes-based catalysts designed for the oscillatory Belousov–Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction. For the first time, we introduce cobalt complex-based self-oscillating gels that demonstrate autonomous color oscillations within a BZ reagent solution, functioning without the need for any external stimuli. We created acrylamide-based self-oscillating gels containing immobilized tris(2,2′-bipyridine)cobalt(II) or tris(1,10-phenanthroline)cobalt(II) complexes and gels containing covalently bound (5-acrylamido-1,10-phenanthroline)bis(2,2′-bipyridine)cobalt(II), (5-acrylamido-1,10-phenanthroline)bis(1,10-phenanthroline) cobalt(II), or tris(5-acrylamido-1,10-phenanthroline)cobalt(II) complexes. When the BZ reaction takes place within the gels, it results in the observation of moving chemical waves and reversible color changes. We believe that Co-complexes-based self-oscillating gels have potential applications in the design of soft actuators and chemical devices for signal processing.

Keywords