Dr Richard Wells

Dr Richard Wells The University of Aberdeen School of Natural & Computing Sciences Dr Richard Wells Senior Lecturer work +44 (0)1224 272920 pref Meston Room 059a

Senior Lecturer

BSc (B'ham), MSc (Liv), PhD (Dundee)

Dr Richard Wells

Personal Details

Telephone: +44 (0)1224 272920
Email: r.wells@abdn.ac.uk
Address: Meston Room 059a
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Research Interests

Catalytic Chemistry and Solid State Spectroscopy

Our main research interests involve the use of spectroscopic techniques, particularly solid state NMR, FTIR and laser Raman to study  powdered materials, and in particular those which exhibit catalytic activity. The development of spectroscopic techniques using fibre-optic technology to enable the study of catalytic systems during reaction is  of particular interest. An example of such work is the use of laser Raman spectroscopy to study the complex Vanadium-Phosphorus-Oxide catalyst system, used industrially to promote the partial oxidation of butane to maleic anhydride. The use of a combination of spectroscopic techniques can lead to a detailed understanding of the mechanism of catalytic reactions at the molecular level, thereby enabling improvements to be made in their synthesis and to the reaction and regeneration conditions, all important aspects in the life cycle of a catalyst.  This detailed knowledge is exemplified when the reaction is enantioselective, such reactions are of increasing importance to the fine chemicals industry where chirality plays an important role, for example in the pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals industries, providing an exciting challenge to develop suitable heterogeneous catalysts. Work in this area to date has included both liquid and gas phase enantioselective reactions and we aim to further develop this work, particularly over oxidic materials.

 

Solid State NMR

The use of solid state NMR has become increasingly widespread in recent years enabling a significant move forward in our understanding of solid materials in general. The department of Chemistry has recently installed a Varian Infinity Plus 400 MHz instrument capable of high speed magic angle spinning and wideline capabilities over an extended range of frequencies. This will be used by many groups within the University, projects already under discussion include studies of novel micro- and mesoporous materials, the hydration and composition of concretes and bone degradation amongst many others.

 


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Current Research

Current research revolves around heterogeneous catalysis. The three main strands of research are concerned with hydrogenation, acid-base catalysts and environmental catalysis.


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Research Grants

Work is currently supported via a variety of sources including EPSRC, BBSRC and industry.


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Teaching Responsibilities

Dr Wells teaches in the following courses:

  • CM1508:  Engineering Chemistry
  • CM2008:  Energetics of Change in Chemical and Biological Processes
  • CM3025:  Molecular Structure and Reactivity
  • CM4017/CM4024 Honours/Advanced Chemistry
  • CM5019:  Renewables Chemistry
  • CM5515:  Oil and Gas Chemistry

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External Responsibilities

Dr Wells is the Honorary Secretary of the Aberdeen and Northern Scotland RSC Local Section together with the Surface Reactivity and Catalysis Interest Group.


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Publications

Contributions to Journals

Articles

  • McCue, AJ., Wells, RPK. & Anderson, JA. (2011). 'Confirmation of Chirality in Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Salen-Based Catalysts'. ChemCatChem, vol 3, no. 4, pp. 699-703.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1002/cctc.201000387
  • McKenna, F., Wells, RPK. & Anderson, JA. (2011). 'Enhanced selectivity in acetylene hydrogenation by ligand modified Pd/TiO2 catalysts'. Chemical Communications, vol 47, no. 8, pp. 2351-2353.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1039/c0cc01742f
  • Anderson, JA., Athawale, A., Imrie, FE., McKenna, F., McCue, AJ., Molyneux, D., Power, K., Shand, M. & Wells, RPK. (2010). 'Aqueous phase hydrogenation of substituted phenyls over carbon nanofibre and activated carbon supported Pd'. Journal of Catalysis, vol 270, no. 1, pp. 9-15.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1016/j.jcat.2009.11.028
  • Stefanowicz-Pieta, IA., Ishaq, M., Wells, RPK. & Anderson, J. (2010). 'Quantitative determination of acid sites on silica-alumina'. Applied Catalysis A: General, vol 390, no. 1-2, pp. 127-134.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1016/j.apcata.2010.10.001
  • Anderson, JA., Mellor, JL. & Wells, RPK. (2009). 'Pd catalysed hexyne hydrogenation modified by Bi and by Pb'. Journal of Catalysis, vol 261, no. 2, pp. 208-216.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1016/j.jcat.2008.11.023
  • Nissen, S., Alexander, BD., Dawood, I., Tillotson, M., Wells, RPK., MacPhee, DE. & Killham, KS. (2009). 'Remediation of a chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbon in water by photoelectrocatalysis'. Environmental Pollution, vol 157, no. 1, pp. 72-76.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2008.07.024
  • MacPhee, DE., Wells, RPK., Kruth, A., Todd, MJ., Elmorsi, T., Smith, WCS., Pokrajac, D., Strachan, NJC., Scott-Emuakpor, E., Nissen, S. & Killham, KS. (2009). 'A visible light driven photoelectrocatalytic fuel cell for clean-up of contaminated water supplies'. Desalination, vol 248, no. 1-3, pp. 132-137.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2008.05.048
  • Anderson, JA., Beaton, KA., Galadima, A. & Wells, RPK. (2009). 'Role of Baria Dispersion in BaO/Al2O3 Catalysts for Transesterification'. Catalysis Letters, vol 131, no. 1-2, pp. 213-218.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1007/s10562-009-0051-7
  • Goodyear, SR., Gibson, IR., Skakle, J., Wells, RPK. & Aspden, RM. (2009). 'A comparison of cortical and trabecular bone from C57 Black 6 mice using Raman spectroscopy'. Bone, vol 44, no. 5, pp. 899-907.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2009.01.008
    [Online] AURA: manuscript final version.pdf
  • Jenkins, RL., Dummer, N., Li, X., Bawaked, SM., McMorn, P., Wells, RPK., Burrows, A., Kiely, CJ. & Hutchings, GJ. (2006). 'Unexpected inversion of enantioselectivity during the hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate using hydroquinine and hydroquinidine modified Pt/Al 2 O 3'. Catalysis Letters, vol 110, no. 1-2, pp. 135-138.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1007/s10562-006-0096-9
  • Coulston, NJ., Wells, RPK., Wells, PB. & Hutchings, GJ. (2006). 'Enantioselective hydrogenation of N -acetyl dehydrophenylalanine methyl ester using cinchonine-modified Pd/TiO 2 catalysts'. Catalysis Today, vol 114, pp. 353-356.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1016/j.cattod.2006.02.039
  • Debeila, MA., Wells, RPK. & Anderson, JA. (2006). 'Influence of water and pretreatment condiitions on CO oxidation over Au/TiO 2 -In 2 O 3 catalysts'. Journal of Catalysis, vol 239(1), no. 1, pp. 162-172.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1016/j.jcat.2006.01.028
  • Dummer, NF., Jenkins, R., Li, X., Bawaked, SM., McMorn, P., Burrows, A., Kiely, CJ., Wells, RPK., Willock, DJ. & Hutchings, GJ. (2006). 'Inversion of enantioselectivity for the hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate in the gas-phase over Pt/SiO 2 modified with derivatives of hydroquinidine'. Journal of Catalysis, vol 243, pp. 165-170.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1016/j.jcat.2006.07.015
  • Coulston, NJ., Jeffery, EL., Wells, RPK., McMorn, P., Wells, PB., Willock, DJ. & Hutchings, GJ. (2006). 'Enantioselective hydrogenation of N -acetyl dehydrophenylalanine methyl ester using cinchonine-modified Pd/Al 2 O 3 catalysts'. Journal of Catalysis, vol 243, pp. 360-367.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1016/j.jcat.2006.07.033
  • Colston, NJ., Wells, RPK., Wells, PB. & Hutchings, GJ. (2005). 'Unexpected inversion in enantioselectivity in the hydrogenation N -acetyl dehydrophenylalanine methyl ester using cinchona-modified Pd/Al 2 O 3 catalyst'. Catalysis Letters, vol 103, no. 1--2, pp. 117-120.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1007/s10562-005-6512-8
  • Xiabao, L., Drummer, NF., Jenkins, RL., Wells, RPK., Wells, PB., Willock, DJ., Taylor, SH., Johnston, P. & Hutchings, GJ. (2004). 'Enanntioselective hydrogenation using cinchona-modified Pt/y-Al 2 O 3 catalyst: comparison of the reaction of ethyl pyruvate and buta-2,3-dione'. Catalysis Letters, vol 96, pp. 147-151.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1023/B:CATL.0000030112.70608.a0
  • Li, X., Wells, RPK., Wells, PB. & Hutchings, GJ. (2004). 'New insights into the relationship between conversion and enantioselectivity for the asymmetric hydrogenation of alkyl pyruvate'. Journal of Catalysis, vol 221, no. 2, pp. 653-656.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1016/j.jcat.2003.10.001
  • Sartoni, L., Bartley, JK., Wells, RPK., Kiely, CJ., Volta, JC. & Hutchings, GJ. (2004). 'Promotion of vanadium phosphate catalysts using gallium compounds: effect of low Ga/V molar ratios'. Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical, vol 220, pp. 85-92.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1016/j.molcata.2004.03.052
  • Griesel, L., Bartley, JK., Wells, RPK. & Hutchings, GJ. (2004). 'Preparation of vanadium phosphate catalysts from VOPO4 center dot 2H(2)O: effect Of VOPO4 center dot 2H(2)O preparation on catalyst performance'. Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical, vol 220, no. 1, pp. 113-119.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1016/j.molcata.2004.02.027
  • von Arx, M., Dummer, N., Willock, DJ., Taylor, SH., Wells, RPK., Wells, PB. & Hutchings, GJ. (2003). 'Observation of high enantioselectivity for the gas phase hydrogenation of methyl pyruvate using supported Pt catalysts pre-modified with cinchonidine'. Chemical Communications, no. 15, pp. 1926-1927.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1039/b304976k
  • Lopez-Sanchez, JA., Griesel, L., Bartley, JK., Wells, RPK., Liskowski, A., Su, DS., Schlogl, R., Volta, JC. & Hutchings, GJ. (2003). 'High temperature preparation of vanadium phosphate catalysts using water as solvent'. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, vol 5, no. 16, pp. 3525-3533.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1039/b305437n
  • Li, XB., Wells, RPK., Wells, PB. & Hutchings, GJ. (2003). 'Premodification of Pt/gamma Al2O3 with cinchonidine for the enantioselective hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate: effect of premodification conditions on reaction rate and enantioselection'. Catalysis Letters, vol 89, no. 3-4, pp. 163-167.
  • Wells, RPK., McGuire, NR., Li, X., Jenkins, RL., Collier, PJ., Whyman, R. & Hutchings, GJ. (2002). 'The effect of water on the enantioselective hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate and butane-2,3-dione using cinchona-modified Pt/Al 2 O 3'. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, vol 4, no. 12, pp. 2839-2845.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1039/b200099g
  • Freeman, D., Wells, RPK. & Hutchings, GJ. (2002). 'The Conversion of methanol to hydrocarbons over Ga 2 O 5 -HZSM-5 and Ga 2 O 5 -WO 3 catalysts'. Journal of Catalysis, vol 205, pp. 358-365.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1006/jcat.2001.3446
  • Lopez-Sanchez, JA., Tanner, R., Collier, P., Wells, RPK., Rhodes, C. & Hutchings, GJ. (2002). 'Acetic acid stability in the presence of oxygen over vanadium phosphate catalysts: comments on the design of catalysts for the selective oxidation of ethane'. Applied Catalysis A: General, vol 226, pp. 323-327.
  • Tanner, R., Gill, P., Wells, RPK., Bailie, JE., Kelly, G., Jackson, DS. & Hutchings, GJ. (2002). 'Aldol condensation reactions of acetone and formaldehyde over vanadium phosphate catalysts: Comments on the acid-base properties'. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, vol 4, pp. 688-695.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1039/b108794k
  • Lopez-Sanchez, JA., Bartley, JK., Wells, RPK., Rhodes, C. & Hutchings, GJ. (2002). 'Preparation of high surface area vanadium phosphate catalysts using water as solvent'. New Journal of Chemistry, vol 26, no. 11, pp. 1613-1618.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1039/b203192m
  • Freeman, D., Wells, RPK. & Hutchings, GJ. (2002). 'Methanol to hydrocarbons: enhanced aromatic formation using composite group 13 oxide/H-ZSM-5 catalysts'. Catalysis Letters, vol 82, no. 3-4, pp. 217-225.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1023/A:1020575130112
  • Cabello Sanchez, J., Lopez-Sanchez, JA., Wells, RPK., Rhodes, C., Isfahani, AZ. & Hutchings, GJ. (2001). 'Effect of dehydration of VOPO 4 ·2H 2 O on the preparation and reactivity of vanadium phosphate catalyst for the oxidation of n-butane'. Catalysis Letters, vol 77, no. 4.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1023/A:1013261219256
  • Bartley, JK., Kiely, CJ., Wells, RPK. & Hutchings, GJ. (2001). 'Vanadium (V) phosphate prepared using solvent-free method'. Catalysis Letters, vol 72, pp. 99-105.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1023/A:1009085127038
  • Freeman, D., Wells, RPK. & Hutchings, GJ. (2001). 'Methanol to hydrocarbons: enhanced aromatic formation using a composite Ga 2 O 3 -H-ZSM-5 catalyst'. Chemical Communications, pp. 1754-1755.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1039/b104844a
  • Watson, GW., Wells, RPK., Willock, DJ. & Hutchings, GJ. (2001). 'A comparison of the adsorption and diffusion of hydrogen on the {III} surfaces of Ni, Pd, and Pt from density functional theory calculations'. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, vol 105, no. 21, pp. 4889-4894.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1021/jp002864c
  • Sanchez, FJC., Wells, RPK., Rhodes, C., Bartley, JK., Kiely, CJ. & Hutchings, GJ. (2001). 'In situ laser Raman spectroscopy studies of the transformation of VOHPO 4 ·0.5H 2 and (VO) 2 P 2 O 7'. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, vol 3, pp. 4122-4128.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1039/b104683g
  • Cabello Sanchez, J., Lopez-Sanchez, JA., Wells, RPK., Rhodes, C. & Hutchings, GJ. (2001). 'Effect of group 13 compounds and bulky organic oxygenates as structural promoters for the selective oxidation of n -butane with vanadium phosphorus oxide catalysts'. New Journal of Chemistry, vol 25, pp. 1528-1536.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1039/b105473m
  • Sanchez, FJC., Lopez-Sanchez, JA., Wells, RPK., Rhodes, C., Isfahani, AZ. & Hutchings, G. (2001). 'Effect of dehydration of VOPO4 center dot 2H(2)O on the preparation and reactivity of vanadium phosphate catalyst for the oxidation of n-butane'. Catalysis Letters, vol 77, no. 4, pp. 189-192.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1023/A:1013261219256
  • Freeman, D., Wells, RPK. & Hutchings, GJ. (2001). 'Methanol to hydrocarbons'. Chemical Communications, no. 18, pp. 1754-1755.
  • Bartley, JK., Wells, RPK. & Hutchings, GJ. (2000). 'The unexpected role of aldehydes and ketones in the standard preparation method for vanadium phosphate catalysts'. Journal of Catalysis, vol 195, no. 2, pp. 423-427.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1006/jcat.2000.3006
  • Watson, G., Wells, RPK., Willock, DJ. & Hutchings, GJ. (2000). 'pi adsorption of ethene on to the {111} surface of copper: A periodic ab initio study of the effect of k-point sampling on the energy, atomic and electronic structure'. Surface Science, vol 459, no. 1-2, pp. 93-103.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1016/S0039-6028(00)00444-1
  • Watson, G., Wells, RPK., Willock, DJ. & Hutchings, GJ. (2000). 'Ab initio simulation of the interaction of hydrogen with the {111} surfaces of platinum, palladium and nickel: A possible explanation for their difference in hydrogenation activity'. Chemical Communications, no. 8, pp. 705-706.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1039/B000772M, Communication
  • Watson, GW., Willock, DJ., Hutchings, GJ. & Wells, RPK. (2000). 'Periodic density functional theory calculations on the adsorption and hydrogenation of ethene on the {111} surface of platinum'. Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society, vol 219, pp. U520-U520.
  • Watson, GW., Wells, RPK., Willock, DJ. & Hutchings, GJ. (2000). 'Density functional theory calculations on the interaction of ethene with the {111} surface of platinum'. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, vol 104, no. 27, pp. 6439-6446.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1021/jp000541a
  • Hall, TJ., Halder, JE., Hutchings, GJ., Jenkins, RL., Johnston, P., McMorn, P., Wells, PB. & Wells, RPK. (2000). 'Enantioselective hydrogenation of pyruvate esters in the mesoporous environment of Pt-MCM-41'. Topics in Catalysis, vol 11, no. 1-4, pp. 351-357.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1023/A:1027215007012
  • Wells, RPK., Tynjala, P., Bailie, JE., Willock, DJ., Watson, G., King, F., Rochester, CH., Bethell, D., Page, PCB. & Hutchings, GJ. (1999). 'Dehydration of butan-2-ol using modified zeolite crystals'. Applied Catalysis A: General, vol 182, no. 1, pp. 75-84.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1016/S0926-860X(98)00422-0
  • Feast, S., Rafiq, M., Siddiqui, H., Wells, RPK., Willock, DJ., King, F., Rochester, CH., Bethell, D., Page, PCB. & Hutchings, GJ. (1997). 'Enantioselective dehydration of butan-2-ol using zeolite Y modified with dithiane oxides'. Journal of Catalysis, vol 167, no. 2, pp. 533-542.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1006/jcat.1997.1576
  • Wells, RPK. (1997). 'Enantioselective dehydration of butan-2-ol using Zeolite Y modified with dithiane oxides: comments on the nature of the active site'. Catalysis Letters, vol 46, no. 3, pp. 249-254.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1023/A:1019030921296

Editorials

  • Wells, RPK. & Anderson, JA. (2006). 'Proceedings of the Surface Reactivity and Catalysis Group Annual Meeting: University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland - 13-15 July 2005 - Preface'. Catalysis Today, vol 114, no. 4, pp. 333.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1016/j.cattod.2006.02.069

Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings

Chapters

  • Wells, RPK. (2008). 'Oxide Materials in Photocatalytic Processes'. in SD Jackson & JSJ Hargreaves (eds), Metal Oxide Catalysis vol. 1-2, Wiley-VCH, pp. 755-770.
  • Wells, RPK. & Johnstone, P. (2005). 'Catalysis for Fine Metals Manufacture'. in JA Anderson & M Fernandez-Garcia (eds), Supported Metals in Catalysis 2nd edn, Catalytic Science Series, vol. 11, Imperial College Press, London, United Kingdom, pp. 327-341.

Conference Proceedings

  • Dummer, NF., Wells, RPK., Taylor, H., Wells, PB. & Hutchings, GJ. (2003). 'Enantioselective hydrogenation of methyl pyruvate in the gas phase over cinchonidine-modified platinum'. Catlaysis in Application ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY, Cambridge, pp. 278-283.
  • Wells, RPK. (2002). 'Metal Oxides in Catalysis'. Encyclopedia of catalysis Wiley-VCH.
  • Wells, RPK. (2000). 'Enantioselective hydrogenation catalysed by platinum metals modified by natural alkaloids'. Chiral Catalysts Immobilisation and Recyling Wiley-VCH, pp. 123.

Patents

  • Wells, RPK. (2007). 'CO tolerant photoanode for PEMFCs for transport and energy generation'. P100797.GB.01.

Other Contributions

  • Dummer, NF., Jenkins, R., Li, X., Bawaked, SM., McMorn, P., Burrows, A., Kiely, CJ., Wells, RPK., Willock, DJ. & Hutchings, GJ. (2007). 'Corrigendum to “Inversion of enantioselectivity for the hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate in the gas-phase over Pt/SiO2 modified with derivatives of hydroquinidine” [J. Catal. 243 (2006) 165–170]'.
    [Online] DOI: 10.1016/j.jcat.2006.11.010

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