Overview
My research interests centre on the properties and structures of ion conducting oxides, with emphasis on the identification and characterisation of new materials using in- situ high temperature techniques such as x-ray and neutron powder diffraction techniques, secondary ion mass spectrometry and low energy ion scattering. This work has potential applications in the development of solid oxide fuel cell, electrolysis and permeation membranes and more has been identified as having application in the field of novel solid state gas sensors. To complement the work carried out within the department my research group is involved in many international collaborations, both in the UK and abroad. In collaboration with the University du Maine, Le Mans, France we reported the first oxide ion diffusion coefficients for the exciting new class of oxide ion conductor, La₂Mo₂O₉ . Links with Tokyo Institute of Technology focused on oxide and and proton conductivity in the hexagonal perovskites, whilst there is a continuing relationship with I²CNER, Kyushu University, Japan focusing on ion transport. Further, we have strong international links with groups involved in ion conducting technologies, including CNRS labs in Grenoble and Bordeaux, IREC in Barcelona and Koblenz. In the field of sensor materials we have had fruitful collaborations with Southside Thermal Sciences Ltd. (Phosphors), and with Professor Ivan Parkin, University College London (metal oxides). The work on phosphor based materials continues through our work with Sensor Coating Systems, Ltd. on developing new materials and understanding their luminescent behaviour.

A significant interest is in the understanding of degradation mechanisms and durability of electroceramic devices. In order to achieve this we are using a suite of in-situ techniques and developing new capability to characterise cells under operating conditions. This was a multi-institution effort including partners at University College London, University of St Andrews and University of Newcastle. Further work on degradation has been funded by Praxair Inc., to develop understanding or permeation membranes, and an international project with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia, was concerned with surfaces and interfaces in electrochemical cells. The results from these collaborations have led to a Supergen H2FC EPSRC award to investigate the control of strain in electrochemical devices, in collaboration with Diamond Light Source.  More recent activities include working with the UK-HyRES team to understand and enhance cell lifetime in solid oxide cells

We have also developed new industrial collaborations with leading companies including Ceres (solid oxide cells), SLB and LiNa Energy (Na batteries).