Prof Mike Reece BSc, PhD, PGCE, MIMMM
Overview
Prof Reece’s research at QMUL has focused on ferroelectric / ferroelastic / piezoelectric materials. A major theme in this work is the effect of ferroelectric / ferroelastic switching on their mechanical properties and degradation. Recent research topics are: characterisation of the electromechanical properties of ferroelectric thin films using nanoindentation; development of new ferroelectric ceramics with super high Curie points (>1,000C) for application as high temperature piezoelectric sensors; rapid sintering techniques to produce new materials. Recently set up the first Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) furnace in the UK. This is being used to develop new and novel structural and functional ceramics and composites. This includes materials with nanoscale microstructures, high texture and non-equilibrium phases. A longterm objective of his work is to commercialise materials prepared by SPS through knowledge transfer and spin-outs.He is a Director of Nanoforce Technology Ltd, a spin-out company of QMUL. Nanoforce focuses on the development new processing routes for nanomaterials that can be commercialised. He is a visiting Professor at Xi'an Jiaotong University. He founded the Ceramic Matrix Composite Forum while at NPL (1992-99). He was a member of the IoM3 Electronics Applications Divisional Board (2002-07). He has recently become the chair for the new IoM3 Functional Materials Committee. Editorial Board of Advances in Applied Ceramics and Journal of Advanced Dielectrics. Royal Society Industry Fellow (2011-2015).
Research Area
Research Topics
Using Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) is is possible to process new composites, with new windows of properties, that were previously not possible to fabricate using conventional processing routes, non-equilibrium composites. When two non-equilibrium phases are processed by conventional sintering they react to form the equilibrium... |
Ferroelectric materials are used in ceramic, thin film and single crystal form for actuator, sensor and memory applications. Their properties are intrinsically dependent on polarisation switching by the movement of ferroelectric domain walls. Despite the importance of ferroelectric switching, there is no complete theory to... |
Lead oxide based ferroelectrics, represented by lead zirconate titanate (PZT), are the most widely used materials for piezoelectric actuators, sensors and transducers due to their excellent piezoelectric properties when their compositions are close to morphotropic phase boundary (MPB). PZT contains more than 60 wt% lead, which... |
There is currently a great interest in size effects in materials. There are many properties that change dramatically when the grain size or component dimensions are below 100 nm. A wide range of nanoscale ceramic powders have been synthesised with dimensions in the nanometre range. However, during conventional sintering the... |
Ceramics are normally processed by the consolidation of powders by sintering at high temperatures. The time required for this process is usually measured in hours because of the slow rate of heating/cooling of the furnaces used. Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS), as it is commonly referred to, is a rapid sintering process, where the... |
High-temperature piezoelectric sensing technology is of major importance to the chemical and material processing, automotive, aerospace, and power generating industries. Ferroelectrics are desirable for piezoelectric application below their Curie points. Ferroelectric polycrystalline ceramics have the advantages over... |
| Ultra - High Temperature and -Hard Materials Carbides, nitrides and borides ceramics are of interest for many applications because of their high melting temperatures, good mechanical properties, including high hardness, and low density. For example the material with the highest known melting temperature is the carbide Ta4HfC5 at 4215 °C. While boron dicarbonitride (BC2N)... |
Research Students
| ANGUIE, Gaelle | Elaboration and hydrogen sorption properties of nanostructured LiBH4-based systems as advanced hydrogen storage materials |
| CHEN, Chen | High Temperature Piezoelectric eramics |
| CHEN, Kan | |
| CHENG, Xiaoyu | Application of Artificial Neural Networks and Genetic Programming in Materials Science |
| CRUZ BLANCO, Carlos | |
| KHALIQ, Jibran | Oxide Thermoelectrics for nergy Harvesting |
| LI, Chunchun | |
| MALHOTRA, Anjum | |
| MENG, Hao | |
| PORWAL, Harshit | |
| ZHU, Xiaojing | Ferroelectric switching in Electrocaloric Polymers |
Research Student Graduates
| MILSOM, Ben | The Effect of CNTs on the Sintering Behaviour and Properties of Structural Ceramic Composites | 2013 |
| GAO, Zhipeng | Perovskite-Like Layered Structure A2B2O7 Ferroelectrics and Solid Solutions | 2012 |
| NING, Huanpo | Perovskite-like Layered Structure A2B2O7 Ferrlelectrics with Super-High Curie Points | 2011 |
| WANG, Yiwen | Mechanical and Chemical Modifications of High-Capacity Hydrogen Storage Materials | 2011 |
| FIANTI, Noor | Going against the Grain: the De-Maturity of the European Textile Industry | 2010 |
| TEZCAKAR, Merve | Techno-economic Transition towards a Hydrogen Economy | 2010 |
| VIOLA, Giuseppe | Domain switching dynamics in ferroelastic and ferroelastic/ferroelectric perovskites | 2010 |
| INAM, Fawad | Development of Ceramic – Carbon Nanotube (CNT) Nanocomposites | 2009 |
| MOHD DAHAN, Rozana | Processing and characterization of aligned ferroelectric PVDF-TrFE thin films | 2009 |
| PETRATOS, Pythagoras | Valuation of nanotechnology using the international private equity and venture capital valuation guidelines and factors influencing it | 2009 |
| REHMAN MALIK, Khalil Ur | An examination of innovation and disruptive technology in the medical devices and implant industry (MPhil) | 2009 |
| CHONG, Kok Boon | An alternative interpretation for domain wall dynamics in ferroelectric switching: thermal activation. | 2007 |
| GUO, Zhiquan | Development of Si3N4-based composites for high temperature sensor application | 2007 |
| ROBERTS, Wei Lim | The elastic and electromechanical properties of ferroelectric thin films studied using spherical nanoindentation | 2007 |
| ZHANG, Xiadong | Electromechanical properties and thermal depoling behaviour of perovskite and aurivillius phase ceramics | 2007 |
| ZHANG, Hongtao | The Relaxor and Ferroelectric Properties of the Aurivillius Phase Ceramics as a Function of Octahedra Layers and Doping | 2006 |
| CHIMA OKEREKE, Chibisi | Nanoindentation of PZT Ferroelectric Thin Films | 2005 |
| HU, Dunzhong | Domain wall dynamics in ferroelectric ceramics under mechanical stress | 2005 |
| WILLIAMS, Kelly | High temperature uniaxial fatigue of oxide ceramics | 2003 |
| BLUGAN, Gurdial | A systematic study of the effects of alumina, yttria and zirconia sintering additives on the microstructure and high temperature creep properties of silicon nitride | 2002 |