Staff
Our research expertise covers the areas of:
- Bulk nano-structured materials processed through severe plastic deformation - very fine grained materials with concomitant property improvements: processing (MEMS), tribological
- 3D powder handling and ink-jet printing processes: functionally gradient materials, tissue scaffolds, pharmaceutical dispensing
- Nanomaterial development and characterisation (e.g. thin-film materials), development of fabrication processes for micro/nano systems using extensive cleanroom facilities at the Southampton Nanofabrication Centre
- Design of state-of-the-art MEMS for challenging engineering applications, dynamic modelling for MEMS, Multiphysics analysis
The materials processing group is further subdivided into three main areas:
- Processing and properties of nanostructured materials
- Micro dry powder dispensing and microfabrication
- Nano & micro-electrochemical systems
Processing and properties of nanostructured materials
With over 120 papers published in ISI peer-reviewed journal papers, more than 6000 citations and numerous invitations to present keynote papers this group is working at the forefront of their field. Research collaborations span the globe with partners in 17 countries including Algeria, Australia, Brazil, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Norway, Russia, Spain, the USA and the UK.
Micro dry powder dispensing and microfabrication
A novel dry powder dispensing approach has been successfully developed (patent has been filed) which allows controlled dispensing of powders at doses as low as 10 μg at high speed.
There are a wide range of applications including: pharmaceutical screening, materials combinatorial research and functional gradient materials fabrication.
Fuel cell electrode fabrication and high throughput screening approaches have been enabled by related microfabrication approaches. Metamaterials fabrication and tissue engineering scaffold freeform fabrication are two further examples.
Nano & micro-electromechanical systems
Research activities focus on MEMS materials, structures and package design, including:
- RF switches, flow control, nanoimprint lithography constitutive law development
- Micromechanical testing of materials for MEMS
- Materials, process and actuator/sensor selection for MEMS
- Development of mechanics framework for wafer bonding (direct bonding, thermocompression and anodic bonding)
- Energy harvesting at micro/nano scale
Collaborations/Funding
EPSRC (Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council), ERC (European Research Council), Huxley Bertram Ltd, GSK (GlaxoSmithKline), Novatis, ECS clean rooms, DSTL/MoD, Royal Society, PolymerVision
Research areas
Structural materials performance
Nano and micro-electromechanical systems