Abstract
The synchronization of oscillators in a network proves a powerful tool for establishing systems which perform complex tasks with relative ease. From the synchronization of fireflies to the coordinated action of neurons embedded in muscle, oscillator dynamics drives a number of natural phenomena. The framework of network synchronization for individual actors proves robust and flexible, allowing for the interactions of microscopic units to have macroscopic impacts. These properties are ideal for the fabrication of novel materials. The Belousov-Zhabotinksy (BZ) reaction is a light sensitive oscillatory chemical mixture which can be confined within a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic device. In confinement, the BZ acts as a single oscillator, but through the diffusive coupling of the chemical communicator bromine, isolated BZ oscillators can interact. To develop networks capable of supporting larger scales of network synchronization, we begin by understanding the interactions of the BZ with its PDMS substrate. In this work, we a single BZ oscillator and pairs of coupled BZ oscillators in PDMS. We discover that there is a significant interaction between the PDMS and the BZ, which increases the heterogeneity of the oscillators' behavior and even causes wells to stop oscillating in extreme cases. This interaction between PDMS and BZ can be mitigated through the use of a controlled chemical boundary. By studying the interaction of the BZ oscillator with PDMS and light, we are able to establish control over the behavior of a single BZ oscillator, allowing us to change the frequency of the oscillations by up to 15% and the phase of an individual oscillator by up to 30% of the oscillator period. Transitioning to a pair of BZ oscillators, we are able to establish control over the interaction between BZ oscillators, allowing us to control the synchronization time for the oscillators, as well as the final state to which the oscillators synchronize. Through the work laid out in this thesis we aim to lay the ground work for future systems to establish control over larger and more complex networks of oscillators.