Selected Work
The scientific question, the contribution, the methods, the findings — and what they change.
How can we understand and control the effects of processing, interfaces, defects and atomic transport so that materials perform more reliably in real applications?
My contribution
Each highlight opens into the scientific question, the materials system, the methods used, the key findings and the practical relevance.
Atomic transport through a single grain boundary
I designed and ran the diffusion study on a model Ni Σ11 bicrystal — a specimen with one controlled grain boundary, so the measurement is attributable to that boundary rather than to a…
Hidden fast pathways in severely deformed metals
I ran a cross-scale diffusion study on ultrafine-grained nickel, deliberately pairing two techniques that probe different depths: SIMS for the shallow, near-surface response and radiotracer…
Building performance through engineered interfaces
I built and studied model metal–metal composites in the Cu/Au, Cu/Ag, Ni/Cr and Ni/Cu systems, depositing the layers by physical vapour deposition and then processing them by severe plastic…
Functional materials designed at the nanoscale
I fabricated and characterised CdS, PbS and polyaniline thin films for gas-sensing and solar-cell applications, principally by chemical bath deposition, alongside sputtering and physical…
Methods
The experimental and analytical methods behind the work above — set out in full on the Expertise page.
Understanding how grain structure, interfaces, defects, texture and processing history influence material behaviour and…
Analysis of grain-boundary diffusion, segregation, atomic transport and defect-controlled behaviour in metals, alloys and…
Studying how materials respond to mechanical loading, deformation processing, thermal exposure and long-term service conditions.
Experience with thin-film fabrication, PVD/sputtered layers and functional films, with attention to structure, interfaces and…
Electron microscopy, EBSD/OIM, EDX/EDS, XRD, SIMS and indentation methods to study structure, chemistry, texture, defects and…
SEM imaging, EBSD/OIM orientation mapping, EDS/EDX chemistry and XRD phase analysis — the day-to-day tools for reading a…
Key findings
The findings are the peer-reviewed record — each one linked to its DOI.
Impact
Materials rarely fail or underperform because of composition alone. Their behaviour is strongly influenced by processing history, grain boundaries, interfaces, defects and atomic transport.
Understanding these mechanisms helps explain why materials strengthen, soften, degrade, diffuse, delaminate or become unstable during manufacturing and service. It enables materials to be selected and engineered more intelligently — reducing unexpected failure, unnecessary testing and resource waste.