The NanoManufacturing Group Members
Principal Investigator
Michael De Volder is Professor of Advanced Materials Engineering at the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge and a fellow of St John's College. Michael performed his PhD research on MEMS actuators at the University of Leuven in Belgium and in part at the Tokyo Institute of Technology in Japan. He then joined the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Michigan and Harvard University as a postdoc researcher in the field of nanotechnology. He also worked for several years at imec - an industry funded microelectronics research institute - before joining the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge. He is a recipient of an ERC starting grant as well as an ERC Consolidator Grant and he is holder of several industrial and academic awards including the Iwan Akerman Award, the Barco High-Tech Award and the Robert M Caddell award. He is a Laureate of the Belgian Royal Academy, vice president of LIAM - a North Carolina based nanotech company and Co_founder of Echion Technologies and Myriofoam (UK).
Contact: mfld2@cam.ac.uk
Post-Doctoral Researchers
Sul Ki Park joined the IfM in September 2019 as a postdoctoral associate in Michael De Volder’s group. She received her PhD (2019) in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea. She investigates nanomaterials as electrodes in energy storage systems such as Li-ion batteries and supercapacitors. In addition, she has focused on understanding the energy storage mechanism using in-situ analysis. Her current research is focused on the characterisation of electrochemical properties of electrode materials by fabricating micro-electrochemical cells using the lithography process.
Contact: sp991@cam.ac.uk
Mahdi received this PhD in Mechanical Engineering from University of Toronto in 2019. His PhD work focused on fundamental understanding of structure-property relationships and new manufacturing routes to microscopically engineer the structures and properties of polymer nanocomposites and foams for emerging application. Before joining the NanoManufacturing group, he studied nanomechanics of polymer single crystals and 2D materials as a postdoctoral fellow at UC-Berkeley and University of Toronto (cross-appointment). His current research at University of Cambridge is focused on the development of the well-defined 3D nanomaterial sensors, and actuators. In particular, he has developed the CNT forests grown on the lithographically developed patterns and used them as the 3D structural backbones to provide electron transport and hybridised them with redox active materials to dynamically actuate 3D microstructures by exploiting electrochemically driven reactions.
Contact: smh204@cam.ac.uk
Dr Hooman Abbasi
Hooman Abbasi is working on the development of novel multifunctional separators for Li-ion batteries to improve their performance and safety at NanoManufacturing group led by Prof.Michael De Volder as a Visiting Research Fellow.
Hooman performed his PhD research on graphene and carbon nanotube nanaofillers and cellular nanocomposites manufacturing and applications at Universidad Politecnica de Catalunya-Barcelona Tech--UPC, as part of multiple competitive projects awarded by the Spanish and Catalunya Governments. He obtained his doctorate degree with Cum Laude distinction in 2019 and later received the extraordinary thesis award in 2021.
Contact: ha510@cam.ac.uk
Byungman Kim joined the nanoManufacturing group as a visiting scholar by Prof Michael De Volder. He received his PhD (2018) in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the UNIST in South Korea. He has focused on the development of photo-rechargeable batteries (PRBs), especially for indoor applications. His current research is focused on the development of advanced PRBs with higher output voltage and understanding the charge transfer mechanism inside them.
Contact: bk449@cam.ac.uk
Joon Wan Kim received his Bachelor of Science from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the POSTECH in 1999. He received his Master of Science (2002) and PhD (2005) at the Department of Precision Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo. From 2002 to 2005, he was also a Junior Research Associate at Materials Fabrication Laboratory, RIKEN. as an assistant professor, he worked at Precision and Intelligence Laboratory, Tokyo Institute of Technology, from 2005 to 2013. He has been an Associate Professor at the Institute of Innovative Research (IIR), Tokyo Institute of Technology. He has also been a visiting academic fellow at the Department of Engineering, the University of Cambridge, since August 2021. His current interests are micromachining and MEMs for functional fluid devices.
Contact: woodjoon@pi.titech.ac.jp
Dr Purna Chandra Ghimire
Purna joined IfM in August 2021 as a research associate in the group of Prof Michael De Volder. Purna was awarded his PhD in 2019 from Interdisciplinary Graduate School, Nanyang Technological University (Singapore). He then worked in Vflow Tech Singapore as research and development scientist. His research has mainly focused on design and development of redox flow battery stack of various sizes and designs, evaluation of active material for stacks development, research on materials and designs.
Contact: pcg26@cam.ac.uk
Dr Kumar Raju
Kumar Raju is a Farday Institution Research Fellow who joined the NanoManucfacturing group led by Prof Michael De Volder in Jan 2022. He performed his PhD research at the University of Madras, India. He then worked as a postdoc at Hanyang University, South Korea. He also worked for several years as a senior research scienctist at the Energy centre, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa. His current research involves the processing of advanced cathode materials. including the development of novel methodes to structure eletrode materiala and to study their processing into advanced electrodes for batteries.
Contact: kr516@cam.ac.uk
Rui Wang join NanoManufacturing Group in July 2022 and work for the Faraday Degradation project in Faraday Institution as a postdoctoral associate in Michael De Volder's group. He received his PhD (2022) in Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School in China. He has focused on the development of cathode material for Lithium-ion battery, especially on the structural regulation and performance optimization of layered cathode materials with the help of advanced characterization methods such as NPD, NMR and STEM.
Contact: rw716@cam.ac.uk
PhD Students
Charlie Barty-King
Charlie is developing a structurally-coloured, iridescent material hydroxypropyl cellulose, HPC, for use in various industries. The material is easily formulated in water, is fully bio-compatible and can dynamically respond to its environment, observed by a change in colour. Charlie and his supervisor, Michael De Volder (Nanomanufacturing), and advisor, Silvia Vignolini (Bio-inspired Photonics), are collaborating to bring this lab-proven photonic technology into the industrial domain by investigating applications and industrial scalability.
More information on HPC can be found here and here. While a synopsis of Charlie's work before joining the Nanomanufacturing group can be found here.
Contact: chb50@cam.ac.uk
Maxime Burgonse
Maxime Burgonse from EPFL (Switzerland) is visiting the University of Cambridge as a part of his master degree. His research is focused on advanced manufacturing techniques of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) microstructures for space applications.
Contact: manb2@cam.ac.uk
Aoife is a PhD student with the NanoDTC (2018 cohort) working on artificial cilia forests, which are composed of CNT scaffolds functionalised with PNIPAM (a thermoresponsive polymer). The aim is to create light- and temperature-responsive cilia arrays for applications such as smart surfaces with switchable emissivity. Her primary supervisor is Prof Jeremy Baumberg of the NanoPhotonics Centre and she is co-supervised by Dr Michael De Volder.
Aoife completed her bachelor's degree in Nanoscience, Physics and Chemistry of Advanced Materials in Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
Contact: adg49@cam.ac.uk
Vinay Malhotra
Vinay is a member of Darwin College where he achieved his MRes through the Graphene Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) at the University of Cambridge and is now researching 2D nanomaterial structures for improving electrode performance in redox-flow battery systems. The project is jointly supervised by Dr Michael de Volder and Professor Clare Grey, and is an industrial collaboration with Royal Dutch Shell plc. (LON:RDSA). Vinay graduated with a BSc in Physics with Nanoscience and technology at the University of Leicester. Vinay has interests in escape rooms, Japanese language and culture, photography, technology, politics, computers & video games, visual narratives and music.
Contact: vsm28@cam.ac.uk
Angus Mathieson
Angus is a PhD candidate working collaboratively with the IfM and Cavendish Laboratories using hybrid perovskite organic semi-conductors to develop a novel photobattery device. He is jointly supervised by Dr Michael DeVolder (IfM) and Dr Felix Deschler (Optoelectronics, Physics).
Angus completed his MSc (Physics) degree at Durham University in 2017 during which he developed a new approach to the extraction and deposition of graphene and other two-dimensional materials for thin film applications. In the following year he obtained an MRes (Distinction) degree as part of his Graphene CDT course at the University of Cambridge, during which he undertook a theoretical project using density functional theory to model the changes in the electronic and vibrational properties of layered materials as they approach the two-dimensional limit. He then begun his current work in 2D/3D organo-metal hybrid perovskites for photovoltaic and battery applications.
Contact: agmm2@cam.ac.uk
Jędrzej Morzy
Jędrzej completed his BSc and MSc in Nanotechnology at Gdańsk University of Technology in Poland. Currently, he is a PhD student within the Doctoral Training Centre in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (NanoDTC) doing a PhD project focused on lithium ion battery cathode materials’ degradation during cycling using in situ electron microscopy. He primary supervisor is Dr Caterina Ducati (Electron Microscopy Group, MSM Dept.) and co-supervised by Dr Michael De Volder.
Contact: jdkm2@cam.ac.uk
Kate Sanders
Kate Sanders is an NanoDTC PhD candidate (c. 2016) working on hierarchically structured carbon nanomaterials with a focus on catalysis and water purification applications. Her PhD is is co-supervised by Dr Laura Torrente (Catalysis and Process Integration group). During her MRes year she completed rotation projects in the mechanical properties of CNT films, the synthesis of double perovskite nanocrystals and the organic synthesis of a drug delivery complex. Prior to this, Kate graduated from University College London in 2016 with an MSci in Chemistry, working on biomimetic polymer-clay nanocomposites for her Masters project. She is a member of Wolfson College.
Contact: kas89@cam.ac.uk
Chris Valentine
The focus of the work Chris is undertaking for his PhD is on the development of carbon nanotube based electrodes for use within electrochemical sensors. Chris is mainly working on producing structured CNT forests, which can be used as the working electrode within a three-electrode system. He is controlling the structure, porosity and surface area of the CNT forest, as well as the functionalisation of the CNT surface to improve the design of the next generation of electrochemical sensors. Additionally Chris works on disposable paper based electrochemical sensors, again studying the affect structure has on the final sensing capabilities of the devices. Chris is a member of the Sensor Technologies and Applications CDT and a recipient of the Leete Premium award.
Contact: cjv22@cam.ac.uk
Bo Wen
Bo Wen is a Graphene CDT candidate who joined NanoManufacturing group led by Dr Michael De Volder in 2018, focusing primarily on Hierarchical rGO-Layered Oxide Composites for High Energy Density Lithium-ion Battery Cathodes. The PhD project is co-supervised by Prof. Clare Grey FRS from Chemistry. His MRes year was finished at Cambridge Graphene Centre, during which he worked on the silicon-graphene hybridised materials for the anodes of lithium-ion batteries. Prior to this, Bo Wen graduated as the 2017 Top Graduate in BEng Chemical Engineering from University of Manchester. He is a member of Clare College.
Contact: bw394@cam.ac.uk
Ismail is a PhD researcher who is part of the Graphene CDT and is working on project is co-supervised by Dr Adrian Fisher (Chemical Engineering and Biotchenology), Prof Manish Chhowalla (Material Science and Metallurgy) and Michael De Volder (Department of Engineering). The focus of his project is to research biomimetic electrochemical actuators using 2D battery materials.
Ismail completed his MPhys in Theoretical Physics at the University of Manchester where he researched the dynamics of football with Manchester City. During his degree he embarked on a prestigious year abroad at the University of California, Berkeley where he modelled active volcanoes in California using seismic waves. In his MRes year at the University of Cambridge he researched the Hall effect in high-T superconductors, and also the interaction of graphene with algae for applications in bio-photovoltaics.
Contact: is448@cam.ac.uk
After finishing his MRes degree in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology at the University of Cambridge in 2020, Jien joined the NanoManucfacturing group led by Prof Michael De Volder for his PhD. The focus of his project is to improve the packing of active materials and the transport of ionic species within battery electrodes. To this end, a bottom up approach will be undertaken to sequentially assemble battery materials into higher order structures that can bring about improved battery stability and greater energy density.
Contact: hjt51@cam.ac.uk
Lifu Tan is a Graphene CDT candidate who joined the NanoManufacturing group led by Prof Michael De Volder in 2020, focusing primarily on Photo-rechargeable energy storage devices using 2D materials. The PhD project is co-supervised by Prof. Jeremy Baumberg and Prof. Clare Grey. His MRes year was finished at Cambridge Graphene Centre, during which he worked on graphene-polymer composites for ultrafast lasers and swelling behaviour in Silicon-graphene based Li-ion battery anodes. Prior to this, Lifu Tan graduated as the 2019 Top Graduate in BSc Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Manchester. He is a member of Queens’ College.
Contact: lt488@cam.ac.uk
Greta completed an MEng in Materials Science at the University of Oxford where she spent her research masters investigating the impact of vibration on degradation in Lithium-ion batteries. She also spent a summer researching solid-state electrolytes in the Faraday institution SOLBAT group. Greta is a PhD student under the supervision of Prof. Michael De Volder and is co-supervised by Prof. Clare Grey. Greta is investigating the fabrication of structured electrodes for redox batteries. These are battery systems that are particularly interesting to store renewable energy sources. She is interested in the relationship between electrolyte flow and electrode structure and using this relationship to manufacture optimised electrodes. Greta completed an internship at Breathe Battery Technologies, where she focused on commercialisation and market analysis. At Oxford, she was involved with the Oxford Foundry (student entrepreneurial hub), the Oxford Climate Society and the Oxford Energy society. In her spare time, she enjoys playing football and making music.
Contact: gbt25@cam.ac.uk
Grace is a NanoDTC PhD candidate (2020 cohort) working on electrochemical carbon capture using supercapacitors. Her primary supervisor is Dr Alexander Forse in the Department of Chemistry and is co-supervised by Prof. Michael De Volder. Grace completed her undergraduate masters degree in chemistry at the University of Warwick in 2020. She is a member of Corpus Christi College.
Contact: gem45@cam.ac.uk
Ze He
Ze He from WUT nano key lab (China) joined the NanoMaunfacturing group led by Prof Michael De Volder in March 2022. His PhD project is to develop novel battery systems and investigate fundamental mechanisms by in-situ characterisations, including Zn-ion battery, iron-ion battery, and Zn-Cu dual metal battery. His work focuses on low-cost and high-safety batteries, aiming to develop competitive battery systems that can meet large-scale application
Contact: zh360@cam.ac.uk
Edward Saunders
Edward is a NanoDTC PhD candidate (c. 2021) working on redox flow batteries and their integration with light harvesting technologies. His PhD is co-supervised by Prof Dame Clare Grey in the chemistry department. Edward completed his MEng in electrical and mechanical engineering at Girton College Cambridge before joining the NanoDTC as a member of Jesus College.
Contact: es758@cam.ac.uk
Heng Wang
Heng joined IfM in October 2021 as a PhD candidate in the group of Professor Michael De Volder. Prior to this, Heng has completed his BA and MEng in Manufacturing Engineering from the University of Cambridge. Heng is currently a Benefactors’ Scholar at St John’s College, and a recipient of the Honorary Trinity-Henry Barlow award. Heng’s research focuses on the development of scalable processes to fabricate better and cheaper Li-ion batteries, in particular, electrode structuring using techniques compatible with large area roll-to-roll coating. In addition, he also works on a side project on electrochemical characterisation and degradation studies with in-situ dilatometry technique, starting from building the instruments from scratch.
Contact: hw492@cam.ac.uk
Hiroki Yachida is a visiting graduate student from the University of Tokyo, Japan. He finished his undergraduate course in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Tokyo in 2022 and is currently a master’s student at the same institution. His research theme focuses on the wetting properties of structured superhydrophobic surfaces, supervised by Professor Timothée Mouterde.
Contact: hy386@cam.ac.uk