Dynamic response of an irreversible catalytic reaction to periodic variation of the reactant’s pressure

The dynamic response of the Ziff, Gulari, and Barshad model for the catalytic oxidation of CO, to a periodic variation of the external pressure is studied close to the CO-poisoning transition. Due to the applied pressure, a considerable enhancement in the catalytic activity is observed when the system is briefly driven into the CO-poisoned state. However, saturation of catalysts’ surface can be induced by applying signals of either long period or high amplitude.