Welcome to the research group page for Patrick Grant, Cookson Professor of Materials at Oxford University. He is also the Executive Director of Faraday Advance - the Transport Node of The Materials Knowledge Transfer Network.
Research activities are focused on the link between heat and mass flow during manufacturing processes, and the resulting material microstructure and properties. Many projects are concerned with solidification behaviour, and/or the use of liquid metal, ceramic or polymer droplet sprays to create unusual materials. The group works closely with industry and has many specialised synthesis and fabrication facilities.
Our research activities are based at Oxford University's Begbroke Science Park, 5 miles north of Oxford - click here for a virtual tour. A new 350sqm Advanced Processing Laboratory at Begbroke was completed in June 2006 and is now the hub for the group's research, linking with other universities and companies in the UK and around the world.
NEWS: Spray-on carbon nanotube electrodes offer scalable solution
Spray forming is a specialist casting route for highly alloyed materials. Using our large scale equipment we are studying the processing and properties of Al-Li alloys, bulk nanostructured Al alloys, Ni superalloys and speciality steels
We have developed a novel application of electric arc spraying involving real-time feedback control of temparature to make large 3D steel shapes directly for tooling applications. The picture on the right shows a large press forming tool we made for the Ford Motor Co.
Our research is focused on the manufacture of multi--millimetre thick tungsten and ceramic coatings on steel and other substrates. One of the key applications is very thick tungsten coatings for plasma facing components in fusion reactors such as ITER.
Processing of nanostructures for energy applications
Nano-structured materials are attractive for energy storage applications because they can provide high specific surface areas leading to high energy densities. We are fabricating various novel nanostructured supercapacitors, using nanotubes and nanoparticles.
As part of an EPSRC Strategic Partnership in Materials with GE Aviation and Bristol University, we are designing, processing and assessing various types of microactuator devices that may one day find applications in smart and morphing aerostructures.
Advanced electronic packaging for extreme environments
Down-well temperatures of 250ºC and pressures >1,000bar provide a harsh environment for multi-material electronic packages (right) to endure. We are developing processing technologies and lifetime models for new interconnect and die attach materials.
Lead free solders in aerospace applications
We are investigating the Pb-free solders in the harsh aerospace environment. We are using nanoindentation to study the properties of individual phases in ball grid arrays manufactured in-house (right) and incorporating the data into numerical models of lifetime.
Spray forming of hierachical metal-metal composites
Novel processing of nanostructured films for energy storage
Control of microstructure by grain multiplication
There are currently no postdoctoral positions available with allocated funding. Please check back another time.
Our five most recent journal publications:
A novel hybrid supercapacitor with a carbon nanotube cathode and an iron oxide/carbon nanotube composite anode, X. Zhao, C. Johnston and P. S. Grant, J. Mater. Chem., 2009, doi: 10.1039/b909779a
Arc sprayed steel: microstructure in deep substrate features, A.P. Newbery and P.S. Grant, J. Thermal Spray Techn., 18 (2009), 256-271. doi: 10.1007/s11666-009-9300-y
Spray deposition of steam treated and functionalized single and multi-walled carbon nanotube films for supercapacitors, X. Zhao, W. Wang, B.T. Chu, B. Ballesteros, W. Wang, C. Johnston, J.M. Sykes and P.S. Grant, Nanotechnology, 20 (2009), 065605, doi:10.1088/0957-4484/20/6/065605.
Spray deposited fluoropolymer/multi-walled carbon nanotube composite films with high dielectric permittivity at low percolation threshold, X. Zhao, A.A. Koos, B.T.T. Chu, C. Johnston, N. Grobert, P.S. Grant, Carbon, 47 (2009), 561-569. doi:10.1016/j.carbon.2008.10.042.
Spray deposition of polymer nanocomposite films for dielectric applications X. Zhao, C. Hinchliffe, C. Johnston, P.J. Dobson and P.S. Grant, Mat. Sci. Eng. B, 151 (2008), 140–145. doi:10.1016/j.mseb.2008.05.024.
4th Int. Conference Spray Deposition and Atomisation and 7th Int Conf. Spray Forming - SDMA 2009 , Bremen, Germany [Scientific Committee] Professor Patrick Grant
Department of Materials, Oxford University
Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PH, UK
T: 44-1865-283763 or 283324
F: 44-1865-848785
patrick.grant@materials.ox.ac.uk
