Diffusion-driven pattern formation in ionic chemical solutions

The driving force in diffusion-driven pattern formation is the difference in the diffusional flux of the key species, which in the case of ionic systems builds up a local electric field at the concentration gradients. The arising additional migrational flux not only decreases but also enhances the instability of the base state, depending on the charge distribution among the components. The opposite charges on the slower diffusing autocatalyst and its reacting counterpart favor pattern formation and shift the onset of instability to a smaller difference in the diffusion coefficients. The same charges, in addition to having the opposite effect, may even lead to the complete stabilization of planar reaction fronts unstable in the neutral system.