Richard J. Puddephatt facts for kids

Richard John Puddephatt is a famous scientist born in 1943 in Aylesbury, England. He is a special professor of chemistry at the University of Western Ontario in London, Canada.

Richard used to hold a special research position called a Canada Research Chair. He studies the basic chemistry of gold and other valuable metals. His goal is to create new materials that could be used in health care and electronics. Richard is known worldwide for his knowledge of platinum and gold chemistry. He has also written two books: The Chemistry of Gold and The Periodic Table of Elements.

Richard's School Days

Richard Puddephatt went to these schools:

• Penn and Tylers Green Primary School
• High Wycombe Royal Grammar School
• He earned his first degree (BSc) from the University of London in 1965.
• He completed his advanced degree (PhD) from University College London in 1968.

His Amazing Research

Professor Puddephatt has done a lot of research on how to make new chemicals. He also studies how these chemicals react and why they do what they do. His work focuses on noble metals, especially how they are used in organometallic chemistry. This type of chemistry is important for making new materials and for something called catalysis. Catalysis helps chemical reactions happen faster.

He has figured out how many chemical reactions work. For example, he studied how platinum and gold compounds react. He also looked at how certain molecules change their shape. These changes are sometimes called the "Puddephatt rearrangement."

Richard has also created special platinum clusters. These are like tiny groups of platinum atoms. They act like the surface of platinum, which is useful for making catalysts. Catalysts help create many products we use every day.

He has found ways to make useful chemicals for a process called chemical vapour deposition (CVD). This process helps create very thin layers of metals like palladium, platinum, silver, and gold. These layers are important for electronics. He has also made special chain-like molecules called catenanes and metal-containing plastics.

Awards and Special Recognitions

Professor Puddephatt has received many important awards, including: