Dynamics of electrochemical oscillators with electrode size disparity: asymmetrical coupling and anomalous phase synchronization

Experiments are carried out in dual electrode oscillatory Ni electrodissolution in which the two electrodes have different surface areas. The transition to phase synchronization is analyzed as asymmetrical coupling strength, induced by placing a cross resistance between the electrodes, is varied. It is shown that because of nonisochronicity (phase shear, i.e., strong dependence of period on amplitude) of the oscillators, anomalous phase synchronization effects can be observed: advanced/delayed synchronization and, to a lesser extent, frequency difference enhancement. The type of synchronization is strongly affected by the underlying heterogeneities of the oscillators; in the experiments with a slow driver (large surface area) electrode the synchronization is advanced, with a fast driver electrode the synchronization is delayed with respect to symmetrical coupling. The findings thus reveal that the interplay of asymmetrical coupling with the types of inherent heterogeneities plays an important role for the interpretation of size effects in the dynamical behavior of a nonlinear chemical reaction.