Spontaneous periodic and bursting current oscillations in iron corrosion by dichromate: a useful study for simulating biological systems

Abstract Studies on chemical and electrochemical oscillating systems are very useful in understanding more complex biological systems. Spontaneous periodic and bursting current oscillations were found in iron/dichromate systems coupled with graphite or zinc electrodes. In this paper, we study some phenomenological features of the two systems: their typical oscillation profiles and the influence of external resistance. The results are explained by the Franck-Fitzhugh model using the mixed potential theory.