On the mechanism of oscillations in the "beating mercury heart".
The discovery of a class of electrochemical-mechanical oscillators-similar to the beating mercury heart -are reported and characterized. Chemical and physical effects on the voltage-time oscillations in these systems have been measured and a mechanism consistent with these effects is given. Interesting cross-catalytic effects involving the electrocapillarity of mercury are proposed to be the origin of the oscillations in these systems.
Chemistry Department, University of California, Davis, Calif. 95616.
S W
SW
Lin
J
J
Keizer
P A
PA
Rock
H
H
Stenschke