Magnetic‐Field‐Manipulated Growth of Flow‐Driven Precipitate Membrane Tubes

Abstract

Chemobrionics is an emerging scientific field focusing on the coupling of chemical reactions and different forms of motion, that is, transport processes. Numerous phenomena appearing in various gradient fields, for example, pH, concentration, temperature, and so on, are thoroughly investigated to mimic living systems in which spatial separation plays a major role in proper functioning. In this context, chemical garden experiments have received increased attention because they inherently involve membrane formation and various transport processes. In this work, a noninvasive external magnetic field was applied to gain control over the directionality of membrane structures obtained by injecting one reactant solution into the other in a three‐dimensional domain. The geometry of the resulted patterns was quantitatively characterized as a function of the injection rate and the magnitude of magnetic induction. The magnetic field was proven to influence the microstructure of precipitate tubes by diminishing spatial defects.

Hierarchical Self-Assembly of Metal-Ion-Modulated Chitosan Tubules

“…Self-organized hollow tubules allow the separation of chemicals similar to the conduit structures of chemical gardens. − In the emerging field of chemobrionics, , the reaction between metal cations and silicate or other alkaline anions leads to precipitation of tubular membranes that produce chemical gradients between their two sides as was reported in iron mineral or sulfide-based membranes and silica chemical gardens . In deep-sea hydrothermal vents, black smoker chimney and hydrothermal fluidsea water fuel cells generate electric energy.…”

From Transport Phenomena to Systems Chemistry: Chemohydrodynamic Oscillations in A+B→C Systems

“…Here they are widely adopted for describing a wealth of self‐organised structures including precipitation patterns like Liesegang bands and, in combination with more complex mechanical and transport mechanisms, to model the growth of chemical gardens [45,46] . Firstly studied as conceptual systems for understanding biological morphogenesis, [47] the new generation of chemical gardens is a subject of extensive and in‐evolution interest in Chemobrionics as environments for early forms of life [44] a well as models to design and fabricate materials with unprecedented properties [48–51] …”

“…[45,46] Firstly studied as conceptual systems for understanding biological morphogenesis, [47] the new generation of chemical gardens is a subject of extensive and in-evolution interest in Chemobrionics as environments for early forms of life [44] a well as models to design and fabricate materials with unprecedented properties. [48][49][50][51] In A + B!C systems, a reaction front (i. e. a localised region with non-zero production rate) develops under control and influence of the transport processes feeding the reaction. The dynamical and structural properties of these fronts have been extensively studied in various conditions [43,[52][53][54] and contextualised to diverse scientific areas ranging from engineering to finance.…”

Chemobrionics: From Self-Assembled Material Architectures to the Origin of Life

“…Experimental and theoretical studies of chemical-garden systems have accelerated since the end of the 20th century with developments in nonlinear dynamics, the study of complex systems, the understanding of the formation of patterns in chemical and physical systems [25], and the development of more advanced experimental and analytical techniques [40]. Many aspects of chemical-garden systems, such as their electrochemical [21] and magnetic properties [41,43], have been recently characterized. It has been observed that in some systems self-assembling chemical engines may appear spontaneously [18].…”