Large variety of spartial and spatio-temporal patterns with a wide degree of complexity exist in nature. Such structures show mathematically predictable order in the midst of complex nonlinear behavior. The coupling of chemical and biological reactions to transport processes such as diffusion or hydrodynamic convection leads to the formation of spatially organized distributions of the reactive compounds in reacting systems. The objective of this research is to conduct a coordinated experimental, theoretical and numerical study of the formation and evolution of spatial and spatio-temporal patterns on the surface of heterogeneous catalysts on which chemical reactions occur. The experiments will characterize quantitatively stationary and travelling wave temperature patterns on catalytic surfaces using an infrared imager. Analytical and numerical studies will help direct and organize the experimental studies and guide the development of principles predicting pattern formation. The experiments, in turn, will serve as a critical test of theoretical predictions and as a guide to model development and modifications. The study should help develop a framework for predicting the classes of reactions and mechanisms which lead to the formation of spatial and spatio-temporal studies, the conditions which lead to the evolution of these patterns, the impact of surface nonuniformities on these structured states, and the impact of these patterns on the performance of a catalyst. The study should provide information on how common these temperature patterns are, point out potential pitfalls in current interpretation of experiments carried out on catalytic surfaces, and advance the ability to exploit these structures for chemical synthesis purposes.
