Interaction of poly(vinyl alcohol) with the Belousov–Zhabotinsky reaction mixture

Abstract

The Ce catalyst of the BZ reaction was fixed in a poly(vinyl alcohol–co–vinyl sulfate) copolymer network. The prepared gel system is able to support spatial pattern formation. The preparation of the Ce salt of the copolymer and the gelation procedure are described. Spectrophotometric measurements prove that fixing of Ce in the gel matrix occurs due to a complex formation process. The poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix interacts with the oscillating BZ mixture and causes partial inhibition of oscillations in batch BZ solutions and a decrease of wave velocities in thin gel layers. The inhibiting effect of PVA was compared to that of the analogous small molecule secondary alcohol, isopropanol. As a probable reason for the inhibition, two possible side reactions of the PVA with single components of the BZ reaction mixture were examined.