1999 Volume 25 Issue 4 Pages 579-584
Rayleigh-Bénard (RB) convection was observed in an electrolytic solution between two parallel copper wire electrodes. Electrochemically driven RB convection was achieved when the anode, where the electrodissolution of copper occurred, was placed above the cathode on which the reduction of ions took place. The motion of the solution was well controlled by the bias potential applied between the electrodes and the dissipation structure made by the flow of the fluid was visualized by using a laser interferometry. Under magnetic field normal to the plane of the convection the roll cells were found to travel horizontally along the wire electrode by the Lorentz force. It is shown that the electrochemically driven RB convection is controlled and monitored much simply than thermally induced conventional ones by adjusting electrochemical parameters and that the system has a wide variety in the structural regularity especially under magnetic field.
