Research
Thin film functional materials
My research is focused on the characterisation and synthesis of thin film materials and surfaces. This includes the development of manufacturing processes based on chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and atomic layer deposition (ALD). I have developed a range of functional thin film materials for applications in electronic devices, renewable energy and others.
Research grants
Enhanced P-type metal oxides for Integrated Circuits (EPIC)
INNOVATE UK (UK)
June 2020 - February 2022
Dielectric engineering on GaN for sustainable energy applications
UK-INDIA EDUCATION AND RESEARCH INITIATIVE (UK)
April 2018 - March 2021
KTP with Pegasus Chemicals Ltd
INNOVATE UK (UK), LLYWODREATH CMYRU WELSH GOVERNMENT (UK), PEGASUS CHEMICALS LTD (UK)
March 2019 - June 2022
Reactive Metal Jet Fusion Printing
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
July 2017 - September 2021
Leverhulme Research Centre for Functional Materials Design
LEVERHULME TRUST (UK)
October 2016 - March 2027
HiPIMS-CVD Hybrid Process for Advanced Functional Coatings: Proof of concept
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
September 2016 - February 2018
An in-situ LEIS facility for atomic-scale assembly manufacturing research
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
June 2016 - October 2017
Manufacturing with Light 2: photochemical ALD to manufacture functional thin films - Xabier Garmendia Colera
RENISHAW PLC (UK)
October 2016 - September 2019
Gen IV and Transmutation MATerials(GETMAT).
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
February 2008 - October 2013
Prediction of irradiation damage effects on reactor components (PERFECT).
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
January 2004 - December 2007
Manufacturing with Light 2: photochemical ALD to manufacture functional thin films.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
December 2015 - December 2018
Microengineering of Quadrupole Mass Spectrometers using RP techniques
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
November 2007 - October 2008
Advancing the applications of ALD process technology.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
March 2015 - December 2017
High Performance Computing for Materials Research.
HIGHER EDUCATION FUND COUNCIL FOR ENGLAND (UK)
January 2000 - December 2002
The growth, characterisation and optimisation of new oxide, nitride and nanostructured materials.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
September 2000 - March 2002
Selective laser melting of high aspect ratio 3D microelectromechanical (MEM) devices and components - an engineering of functional materials proposal.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
March 2005 - August 2006
Knowledge Centre for Materials Chemistry
NORTH WEST DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (UK)
October 2008 - March 2012
Engineering functional materials for catalytic smart microreactors.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
December 2006 - June 2010
High permittivity dielectrics on Ge for end of Roadmap application.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
January 2011 - March 2014
InGaAs:N materials for uncooled 1.3um laser transmitters.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
January 2000 - May 2003
Unit-cell level assembly of complex oxides - developing a new synthetic method for oxide chemistry.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
October 2004 - September 2007
A Cluster tool for processing III-V semiconductors.
HIGHER EDUCATION FUND COUNCIL FOR ENGLAND (UK)
January 1999 - December 2001
Developing Modern Superconducting ALD/CVD Coatings for Particle Accelerators RF Cavities.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL
March 2014 - August 2017
Interface analysis of atomic level and properties of advanced materials.
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
February 2000 - April 2003
Silicon Compatible GaN Power electronics
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
March 2013 - August 2018
PIA IMPACTS GRANT
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
August 2010 - March 2011
Improved Precursors for the MOCVD of Strontium Bismuth Tantalate and Related Materials.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
July 2001 - June 2004
Mechanisms and Control of Resistive Switching in Dielectrics
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
January 2015 - January 2018
Feasibility study of refractive index medication of polymers using femtosecond laser irradiation.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
September 2004 - August 2005
Compact Raman spectrometer for in-situ characterisation of CBE deposited III-V materials.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
February 1999 - January 2001
Manufacturing with Light - photochemical ALD to manufacture functional thin films
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
March 2014 - August 2015
Innovative Manufacturing Centre proposal: novel manufacturing processes for functional multilayer oxide thin films.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
July 2003 - July 2006
Liquid injection ALD of Cp- based precursers for deposition of dielectric materials.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
October 2006 - October 2009
Laboratory Refurbishment Scheme for Nanotechnology.
ROYAL SOCIETY (CHARITABLE)
July 2003 - December 2003
Interfacial phenomena at atomic resolution and multiscale properties of novel III-V semiconductors (PARSEM).
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
March 2005 - February 2009
Compliant substrates for materials on silicon (COSMOS).
DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY (UK)
September 2004 - September 2007
Integration of III-nitride materials with silicon microsystem technologies.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
March 2001 - February 2004
KEL09/05 - Atomic layer deposition processes for treating nanostructured materials
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
January 2010 - September 2012
Towards Sinter-free Printing of Photovoltaic Cell Interconnects.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
October 2012 - September 2015
KEL09/04 - Manufacturing process for SrHfTiO3 high-k dielectric
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
May 2010 - May 2011
High throughput selective laser melting of cellular components.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
October 2005 - September 2010
Microfluidic Analytical and Screening Technology Centre.
MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
July 2001 - June 2004
KTA
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
October 2009 - September 2012
Improved Processes and Materials for Energy Saving Glazing
INNOVATE UK (UK)
February 2009 - January 2012
MOCVD of lanthanide oxides and silicates for microelectronics applications.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
May 2004 - October 2007
Innovative Manufacturing Technology Research Centre.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
March 2003 - February 2006
ZnO MESFETs for application to Intelligent Windows
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
May 2013 - May 2016
Research collaborations
Professor M. Ritala
University of Helsinki
Atomic Layer Deposition of high-k thin film materials
Professor M J Rosseinsky
Synthesis of novel and metastable thin film materials
Professor Stephen Hall and Dr Octavian Buiu
Characterisation of high-k dielectrics for advanced CMOS technology
Professor Anthony C Jones and Dr Helen Aspinall
Development of novel precursors for chemical vapour deposition processes
Dr Steve Taylor
Characterisation of high-k dielectric thin films
Dr Christopher Sutcliffe and MSERC
Rapid prototyping, Selective Laser Melting and Digital Light Processing of engineering components
Dr T. C. Q. Noakes and Dr P. Bailey
Daresbury Laboratory (CCLRC)
Development of MEIS for thin film characterisation
Functional Materials Group
Electronic Materials, processing technologies and materials characterisation