Diffusion-driven instabilities in the BT-GN oscillatory carbonylation reaction network

Abstract

This study explores the role of diffusion in creating instabilities in the Bruk Temkin-Gorodsky Novakovic (BT-GN) oscillatory carbonylation reaction network. Stoichiometric network analysis and numerical methods revealed the presence of two destabilizing feedback cycles responsible for these instabilities. Analysis of a spatially uniform system showed that the saddle-node bifurcation can be simulated within the reaction network. The introduction of diffusion results in two types of instabilities: one occurs when a spatially uniform system is already unstable, leading to a reaction–diffusion front; and another involves diffusion-driven instabilities where introducing diffusion destabilizes a stable spatially uniform system. Slower PdI2 diffusion plays a key role in inducing these instabilities. Equations describing conditions for the emergence of the instabilities in both cases were derived.