New Functions in Artificial Membranes Based on Nonlinear Characteristics

在本项目中，重点研究了以下两点：(1)化学传感的新策略；(2)将化学能转化为矢量过程的新方法。(1)一般来说，每一个电化学系统都表现出非线性特性，例如，它的电容和电导随着外加电压的变化而显著变化。在本研究中，我们提出了一种新的电化学非线性检测方法。基于频带现象的维恩桥振荡器被用于此目的。当维恩桥振荡器连接到电化学系统时，通过电非线性的作用产生频率同步。通过基于非线性微分方程的理论计算再现了夹带的方式。作为该方法的一个应用，我们研究了在测试溶液中添加各种味道化合物对夹带方式的影响。已经证实，夹带的方式根据化合物的味道类别而有特征地变化。(2)研究了节律性化学反应（如Belousov-Zhabotinsky反应）振荡之间的干扰方式。研究发现，当三个化学振子以正三角形连接方式相互耦合时，会产生三相模式。这种模式非常有趣，因为这意味着三相交流电是自发产生的，不需要任何特殊的设备，如反馈电路。需要注意的是，三相交流电能高效率地诱导转矩。因此，该系统被认为是一种将化学能转化为矢量过程的新方法。

In the present project, the following two points were intensively studied : (1) new strategy of chemical sensing, and (2) new method of the conversion of chemical energy into vectorial processes.(1) In general, every electrochemical system exhibits nonlinear characteristics, e. g., its capacitance and conductance change markedly with applied voltage. In the present research, we proposed a new sensing method for detecting electrochemical nonlinearity. A Wien bridge oscillator based on the phhnomenon of frequency entrainment is used for this purpose. When the Wien bridge oscillator is connected to an electrochemical system, synchronization of the frequency is generated through the effect of the electrical nonlinearity. The manner of the entrainment has been reproduced by theoretical calculations based on nonlinear differential equations. As an application of this method, we have studied the effect of various taste-compounds added to the test solution on the manner of the entrainment. It has been confirmed that the manner of the entrainment changes characteristically depending on the taste-category of the compounds.(2) We have studied the manner of interference between the oscillations of rhythmic chemical reactions, such as the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction. It has been found that triphasic mode is generated when three chemical oscillators couple to each other in a regular triangle connection. This mode is quite interesting, because this implies that tri-phasic alternating current is created spontaneously without any special equipment such as feed back circuit. It should be noted that torque is induced in high efficiency with the tri-phasic alternating current. Thus, this system is considered as a new method of the conversion of chemical energy into vectorial process.