Advanced materials

Every article, instrument, machine or device we use depends for its success upon materials, design and effective production. We work on a wide range of materials topics including:

  • new material development
  • optimising of materials processing
  • testing and evaluation at component scale and at high spatial resolution
  • modelling
  • failure analysis

Much of our work relates to materials and processes for renewable energy generation, energy efficiency, carbon capture and storage. We also use biological and bio-inspired processes to develop new functional materials.

The Group Head is Professor Steve Bull, Cookson Group Chair of Materials Engineering Ð high spatial resolution mechanics. His research focuses on development and testing of compliant and porous materials, and the use of sustainable materials. Professor Bull is the 2013 recipient of the Tribology Silver Medal presented by the Tribology Trust, the top national award in this area.

Achievements

Since 2008 we have:

  • won over £3m in research funding from EPSRC, EU and industry
  • published more than 90 papers in refereed journals and conference proceedings
  • seen more than 20 PhD students graduate
  • delivered more than 40 invited, keynote and plenary talks at International Conferences including a plenary at Nanoscale Multilayers, Madrid 2013 (Bull)

Electrochemical engineering science

Electrochemical Engineering Science (EES) arose out of the pioneering fuel cell research at Newcastle in the 1960s.Ê We are continuing this research on new catalyst and membrane materials, optimising electrode structures and developing meaningful fuel cell test procedures.Ê

We are investigating electrochemical methods for surface structuring, probing and testing at the micron and nanoscale.Ê More recently, we have been using electrochemical analysis to understand cellular and microbial catalysis and processes.Ê

Applications of our research are in:

  • energy production and storage
  • micro and nanoscale device fabrication
  • medical and health care applications
  • corrosion protection

The Group Head is Professor Sudipta Roy. Professor Roy's research focuses on materials processing, micro/nano structuring and corrosion.