Philip Bartlett is a world leader in research and development in electrochemistry — chemical reactions that take place at an interface with an electrode. He has developed techniques for depositing tiny amounts of material on the nanoscale and for controlling the nanostructure of deposits. Philip has also developed sophisticated biosensors that can sniff out telltale chemicals such as pollutants, food contamination and illegal drugs.

Philip’s contributions come from his deep insights into underlying kinetic processes — the way in which specific conditions influence reaction rates. This understanding means that Philip and his colleagues can set conditions to direct how materials are deposited on a surface, or to amplify and detect the electrical changes that occur due to specific reactions.

Philip’s many awards include the Geoffrey Barker Medal for electrochemistry from the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Carl Wagner Memorial Award from the Electrochemical Society, and the Electrochimica Acta Gold Medal of the International Society of Electrochemistry. He is President-elect of the International Society of Electrochemistry and will begin his term in 2016.