Macroscopically structured polymer formation governed by spatial patterns in the Belousov–Zhabotinsky reaction

We report the formation of macroscopically structured cross-linked polyacrylamide hydrogel in the Belousov–Zhabotinsky (BZ) system (oxidation of malonic acid by bromate catalyzed by ferroin). Here, acrylamide, the cross-linker bis-acrylamide, and polymerization initiator are added into the BZ system. We show that the formation of waves and ripples in the polymer is governed by spatial structures emerging in the BZ system. Without any spatial structures in the BZ system only the formation of a spatially uniform polymer is observed. Without cross-linker, a spatially uniform polymer was observed as well. Structured polymer formation is caused by the interaction of chemical reactions in the BZ system and the polymerization process including gelation and cross-linking of the monomer units.