Richard Compton

The Compton Group has broad interests in both fundamental and applied electrochemistry and electroanalysis including nano chemical aspects. 

Nanoscience

Nanoparticles are used in over 1500 commercial products and continue to find new uses from medical to environmental applications. The ability to characterise - structurally, catalytically and reactively - these particles is vitally important. We have pioneered a powerful method for the detection of nanoparticles. which relies on the collisions between an individual nanoparticle and an electrode. Information such as size, composition, porosity, and degree of aggregation/agglomeration is realised either by direct electrolysis of the nanoparticles of via catalytic processes mediated by it. Work in the group has expanded this novel technique to a diversity of nanomaterials including Ag, Au, Cu, Co₃O₄, TiC, organic and polymeric  nanoparticles in a wide range of media including seawater and in physiological fluids. The approach has spawned a new era of 'single entity electrochemistry' which has seen the Compton Group apply this to bacteria, viruses, enzymes and plankton.

Theory and computer simulation

Electrochemical reactions and indeed processes at solid-liquid interfaces most generally, involve a challenging and intriguing interplay of electron transfer, mass transport  (diffusion, convection, migration), adsorption. chemical reaction and electrostatics. We develop both analytical theory and bespoke programs (for example, using C++ and other platforms) to solve a diversity of problems in nano electrochemistry and electrocatalysis. Current projects address the mechanism of the electro-oxidation of hydrazine (in synergy with experiment), the uptake of herbicides through plant leaves (with Syngenta) and the recognition of electrode reaction mechanisms via AI.

Sensors 

Patents have been filed on 25 different topics including novel pH sensors, gas sensing and the detection of garlic strength and chilli heat in foodstuffs (with the latter commercialised with Zimmer Peacock). The Senova pHit Scanner based on Compton group patents - the world's first calibration-free pH meter - won the prestigious 'best new product' award at PITTCON March 2013. Current projects include sensors for fetal blood pH (to alert to possible brain damage via blood acidification, and in collaboration with the John Radcliffe Hospital), electrochemical bacteria detection, new food sensors, 
amperometric detection of alkali metals and sensors for plankton.

Marine electrochemistry  

Plankton bloom is a word-wide phenomenon which has a very significant impact on climate change. Our current interest in monitoring the ocean 'health' includes the development of a low power electrochemical sensor for autonomous submarines to detect plankton (number, speciation) and in applying electrochemical to characterise calcifying plankton as part of the Oxford Martin Programme Monitoring Ocean Ecosystems (with Profs Heather Bouman and Ros Rickaby, Earth Sciences): Monitoring Ocean Ecosystems | Oxford Martin School.