Cellular automaton approach to the NOCO reaction on a catalytic surface

The NOCO reaction on a catalytic surface is studied with the aid of the cellular automaton model of Chopard and Droz. Proper stoichiometry is taken into account in an appropriate way. A mean-field analysis of this model is given, with the results indicating that a first-order kinetic phase transition from the CO∗N∗ poisoned phase to the reactive phase always occurs, so that a steady reactive phase necessarily exists, independent of the type of lattice. The conclusion that for the NOCO surface reaction the square lattice cannot support a steady reactive phase seems to be a finite size effect.