Annette Taylor

Research section: Physical Chemistry

KEYWORDS Chemical kinetics reaction-diffusion flow computational modelling nonlinear dynamics biomimetics

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Projects in our group combine experimental chemistry with computational modelling to investigate kinetics in complex systems. We are interested in the interaction of chemical reaction and transport processes relevant to biological or industrial problems. Currently, we examine heterogeneous micro-catalytic reactions coupled by mass exchange or by light; reactions under continuous flow in CSTRs, packed beds or microfluidic reactors; enzyme kinetics and reactions in water-in-oil microemulsions.

One particular interest of the group is chemical self-organisation through feedback processes such as autocatalysis. Feedback underlies chemical excitability (amplification), oscillations, travelling concentration waves and patterns. Such phenomena are important in signalling and information processing in biological systems and may create methods for the development of novel bio-inspired materials, devices or sensors. We are working on the design of systems with desired kinetic features, such as pH switches and oscillators to drive pH-sensitive processes (e.g. precipitation) or polymeric devices.

Experimental techniques used by the group include electrochemistry or UV/Vis spectroscopy in closed or open (flow) reactors and microscopy/ digital imaging of spatially-distributed systems. We also work with collaborators on use of MRI, dynamic light scattering and other techniques where appropriate. We use dynamical systems approaches to model experiments, with numerical simulations performed using code developed in-house or commercially/freely available packages. Research is supported by the Nuffield, EPSRC and is performed in collaboration with groups in the US and Europe.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Taylor AF; Tinsley MR; Wang F; Huang Z and Showalter K, Dynamical Quorum Sensing and Synchronization in Large Populations of Chemical Oscillators, Science, 2009, 323, 614-617

Taylor AF; Kapetanopoulos P; Whitaker JBC; Toth R; Bull L; Tinsley MR Clusters and switchers in globally coupled photochemical oscillators, Phys. Rev. Lett. 2008, 100. 214101

Mcilwaine RE; Fenton H; Scott SK; Taylor AF Acid Autocatalysis and Front Propagation in Water-in-Oil Microemulsions., J. Phys. Chem. C, 2008, 112, 2499

Kovacs K; Mcilwaine RE; Scott SK; Taylor AF An Organic-Based pH oscillator, J. Phys. Chem. A , 2007, 111, 549-551