Tomography of reaction-diffusion microemulsions reveals three-dimensional Turing patterns.

Area of Science:

• Chemical reactions
• Pattern formation
• Morphogenesis

Background:

• Alan Turing proposed reaction-diffusion systems for morphogenesis in 1952.
• Turing patterns, spatially periodic and temporally stationary, have been observed in 1D and 2D.
• Previous studies were limited to one or two spatial dimensions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the existence of Turing patterns in three spatial dimensions.
• To explore pattern formation in microemulsions using the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction.
• To demonstrate novel 3D Turing patterns beyond 1D and 2D limitations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized tomography to study the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction.
• Employed a microemulsion system with polar reactants confined to aqueous nanodroplets.
• Analyzed patterns formed in a three-dimensional space.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated the existence of Turing patterns exclusively in three dimensions.
• Observed various 3D patterns including curved surfaces, hexagonally packed cylinders, spots, labyrinthine, and lamellar structures.
• Showcased patterns existing at scales larger than the nanodroplet confinement.

Conclusions:

• Turing patterns can manifest in three dimensions, expanding beyond 1D and 2D.
• The microemulsion system facilitates the observation of complex 3D pattern formation.
• This finding has implications for understanding morphogenesis and pattern development in various scientific fields.