Patrick Grant

My research takes place at the interface between advanced materials and manufacturing, and concerns a wide range of structural and functional materials. Current activity includes structured electrodes for supercapacitors and batteries, 3D printed materials with spatially varying electromagnetic properties for microwave devices, and advanced metallics for power generation. Recent work has also concerned X-ray imaging of microstructural evolution, especially of solidifying alloys. My research uses manufacturing techniques used in industry, such as vacuum plasma spraying and field assisted sintering, alongside in-house developed novel processes such as spray deposition of multi-suspensions and 3D printing of dielectric materials. We make use of numerical modelling for device design, to provide insights into underlying process physics, and to understand how heat and mass flows control the final microstructure and properties. All the research involves close collaboration with industry and other universities across the UK and the world.