Internal noise stochastic resonance in NO reduction by CO on platinum surfaces.

We have studied the roles of internal noise in the oscillatory reaction kinetics during NO reduction by CO on low-index single crystal platinum surfaces using the chemical Langevin equation and the Poisson approximation algorithm. Considering that the surface is divided into small well-mixed cells, we have focused on the dynamical behavior inside a single cell. It is found that internal noise can induce rate oscillations and the performance of the stochastic rate oscillations undergoes a maximum with the variation of internal noise level for a given NO partial pressure, demonstrating the occurrence of internal noise stochastic resonance. Such a phenomenon is robust to the change of external parameters, such as NO pressures. Interestingly, it is also found that internal noise noticeably alters the oscillatory waveform and, hence, the reaction activity and oscillation signal intensity, but it nearly does not change the global reaction rate.