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Intelligent polymers in response to an external stimulus such as pH, temperature, and ionic strength have received much attention because they not only can be used to construct new functional polymers but also can help us to understand some phenomena in life science.1 In comparison with biomacromolecules which function automatically, the conventional polymers exhibit discontinuous action since the response is usually driven by an on-off external stimulus. Recently, chemical oscillation has been used to fabricate polymeric materials with self-action.2–10 It has been reported that polymeric gels in a closed system driven by the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction exhibit self-oscillation.2–5 Due to the energy dissipation, the oscillation amplitude decays with time. pH-responsive gels with periodical volume changes driven by the Landolt reaction have also been prepared.6–8 Such gels work in an open system with constant amplitude if the input is continuous. Note that a responsive interface usually exhibits some unique properties in comparison with the bulk materials.However, the oscillating interface or surface has been seldom studied.
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