Phase separation mechanism for a unified understanding of dissipative pattern formation in a Liesegang system

diffusion in a solid hydrogel. Combined experiments and numerical simulations reveal that pattern formation is driven by the macroscopic phase-separation mechanism. Furthermore, the pattern periodicity obtained from both experiments and simulations follows the classical spacing law of LP, namely, the LP morphology is determined without the need for nucleation. Therefore, we can show that the formation of LPs can be described in a unified mechanism, regardless of whether nucleation occurs. This finding opens the possibility that the chemical Liesegang system can be applied as a practical model for proving the mechanisms of similar dissipative pattern formation.