Microwave-Induced Nanoscale Convection, Polarisation, and Thermal Effects Leading to Innovative Analytical Technology
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Oxford Chemistry
Abstract
Our project hypothesis is that extremely energetic microwave-driven convection and heating are possible for both inlaid-disk nanoelectrodes and nanoparticles immersed in solution and that massive improvements in electroanalytical processes can be achieved with these microwave effects. These phenomena (temperature, mass transport) can be directly measured and quantified in electrochemical experiments employing nanoelectrodes. At very small electrodes turbulence can be suppressed and unusually fast convective flow can be achieved (driven by microwave induced thermal gradients) giving high currents and beneficial effects e.g. kinetic resolution in analytical applications (sulphide, thiol, arsenite, oxygen, carbon dioxide, etc.). More importantly, the adsorption of microwaves into the double layer of interfaces with sufficiently fast RC time constant (e.g. at nanoelectrodes) has never been reported and may again lead to novel chemical phenomena (e.g. for processes involving H2, CO2, or CO adsorbates on Pt, Pd, or Au). These kinds of processes (which occur only at nanoelectrodes or nanoparticles) could be important for sensor and fuel cell processes.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Richard Guy Compton (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
![publication icon](/resources/img/placeholder-60x60.png)
Cutress I
(2011)
Electrochemical random-walk theory
in Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry
![publication icon](/resources/img/placeholder-60x60.png)
Cutress I
(2009)
Stripping Voltammetry at Microdisk Electrode Arrays: Theory
in Electroanalysis
![publication icon](/resources/img/placeholder-60x60.png)
Cutress I
(2011)
Dual-microdisk electrodes in transient generator-collector mode: Experiment and theory
in Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry
![publication icon](/resources/img/placeholder-60x60.png)
Cutress I
(2010)
Theory of square, rectangular, and microband electrodes through explicit GPU simulation
in Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry
![publication icon](/resources/img/placeholder-60x60.png)
Cutress I
(2011)
How many molecules are required to measure a cyclic voltammogram?
in Chemical Physics Letters
![publication icon](/resources/img/placeholder-60x60.png)
Cutress I
(2009)
Microwave-Assisted Electroanalysis: A Review
in Electroanalysis
![publication icon](/resources/img/placeholder-60x60.png)
Cutress I
(2011)
Nanoparticle-electrode collision processes: Investigating the contact time required for the diffusion-controlled monolayer underpotential deposition on impacting nanoparticles
in Chemical Physics Letters
![publication icon](/resources/img/placeholder-60x60.png)
Cutress I
(2010)
Using graphics processors to facilitate explicit digital electrochemical simulation: Theory of elliptical disc electrodes
in Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry
Description | • The realization of microwave enhanced processes at nano-electrodes coupled to high speed measurements. This allowed us to observed discharge effects for the first time. A new model of the processes under high intensity microwaves in liquid electrolyte has been proposed. • The observation and enhancement of superheating effects are electrode surfaces under microwave conditions. This work allowed us to operate under extremely high temperatures without applying external pressure. |
Exploitation Route | The research has realised (a) new analytical procedures and (b) fundamental insights into heated electrodes and processes occurring on them. The former will be exploited by analytical chemists and the latter both by fundamental electrochmists and electroanalysts. |
Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Agriculture Food and Drink Chemicals Energy Environment Healthcare |
Description | Papers resultant from this grant have produced significant follow up research. |
First Year Of Impact | 2011 |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Energy,Environment,Healthcare |
Impact Types | Cultural Societal Economic |