Loughborough University
Leading acedmics at Loughborough University...
- Research focus is on the Processing-Structure-Property relationship in polymeric materials.
- conductive Polymer Composites (PTC Composites)
- Flexible self-regulating heating devices.
- Safety batteries with PTC layer.
- Switch type temperature sensor.
- Strain sensor and degradation sensor.
- Energy efficient sustainable manufacturing of composite materials.
- Hierarchical Composites
- on-line SHM and sensing based on electrical methods.
- self-healing and easy repairing with preserved original properties.
- Multi-scale mechanical reinforcement, i.e. toughening and out-of-plane properties.
- Polymers for Energy
- Flexible and stretchable self-powered multi-sensor.
- Ferroelectric polymer.
- Focus on Materials Chemistry, Energy Materials and Nanomaterials:
- Ceramic and ceramic composites derived from preceramic polymers
- Hybrid composites and functional materials via novel synthetic methods
- Semiconducting ceramic nanoparticles and thin films
- Cold sintering of functional ceramics
- Electrolyte polymer membranes for high temperature fuel cell applications.
- Clay/polymer nanocomposites for medical applications
- Nanocomposite conformal coatings for tin whisker applications
- Solid-state Li battery materials
- Controlled synthesis of low-dimensional catalysts for biofuels
- Biopolymers with tailorable particle size, morphology and surfaces for tissue engineering applications
- Stimuli responsive polymers for biomedical applications
- Tailoring polymer properties by controlling architecture
- Solution based polymer and particle characterisation
- Synthesis of polymers from renewable resources
Dr Fiona Hatton - Lecturer in Polymer Chemistry
- With a background in polymer synthesis and characterisation, Fiona’s research interests lie in the development of new sustainable polymers and the sustainable use of plastics: Synthetic polymer chemistry
- Self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers
- In situ monitoring of polymer self-assembly
- Polymer composite materials utilising nanocellulose
- Sustainable polymer chemistry
- Polymerisation of monomers derived from renewable resources
- Diffusion and self-assembly in aqueous colloidal blends – bimodal, trimodal, and polydisperse.
- Design, fabrication, and testing of functional polymer and composite coatings, including antibacterial, self-cleaning, and abrasion resistant.
- Use of X-ray and neutron scattering techniques, either on lab-based instruments or at large facilites such as synchrotrons and neutron sources, to investigate the structure of colloidal and polymer films as well as their dynamics.
- Combination of atomic force microscopy with high-end optical microscopies for materials characterisation, including confocal fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy.
- Biocompatible and natural polymers for regenerative medicine
- Nanofibrous wound dressings with antimicrobial activity and enhanced cell proliferation
- Functional nanocomposites with controlled surface and mechanical properties
- Microfluidic devices for biological assays and food safety
- Nanofabrication approaches for polymers
- Conjugated polymers are a fascinating class of one dimensional semiconductors. They are finding a wide range of applications including: Displays, Printed circuits (including field effect transistors) and photovoltaics
- I am particularly interested in studying the morphology of thin films of these materials and the interfaces that they form with other materials.
- I also am interested in the behaviour of polymer chains tethered at one end to a surface – polymer brushes. In particular I am investigating the behaviour of brushes made from stimuli responsive materials.
- The experimental techniques I use include neutron and Xray scattering, atomic force microscopy and ellipsometry
Dr Fiona Hatton - Lecturer in Polymer Chemistry at Loughborough University. With a background in polymer synthesis and characterisation, Fiona’s research interests lie in the development of new sustainable polymers and the sustainable use of plastics sustainable polymer synthesis using machine learning https://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/materials/facilities/polymer-processing/
The scope of equipment and Staff resource available provides enormous opportunity for collaborative research programmes, for supporting student projects and also for short-term contract and consulting-type development activity with the Department of Materials. Whilst much of our research is sponsored by public-sector authorities (research councils, Innovate-UK etc.), we also collaborate in partnership with many companies along the component supply chain, including suppliers of polymers, additives and intermediates, component manufacturers and end-users.
