A QMUL-UCL Intercollegiate Platform Grant (ICP) on Powder-Based Processing & Modelling has been awarded by the EPSRC, spanning the period 2007-2011, as recognition of first-class research in the subject area. Powder-based Processing and Modelling is an enabling fundamental research theme in Advanced Materials, encompassing nanotechnologies, energy, electronics and biotechnologies. The project is jointly led by Professors Z. Xiao Guo and Julian Evans at Queen Mary, University of London and Prof. Mohan Edirisinghe at University College London. The three investigators were first awarded a Platform Grant on the same theme about three years ago to pursue the research theme, and this is the second platform award to them, following their very successful first platform grant (GR/S52636, spanning 2003-2007)) output. Jointly they have secured nearly £ 4 million research funding from the EPSRC, the Royal Society, industry and other organisations, and generated over 70 journal publications and similar number of invited presentations. Their research is also linked through other collaborative grants to Imperial College, King’s College and London South Bank providing a London-based materials network and now extending to several London medical schools. The collaboration has also widened to include other leading materials centres in the UK (e.g. Oxford, Cambridge, Birmingham, Nottingham, Bath, Salford, Surrey, Cranfield, UEA, Glasgow, Glamorgan) and several international centres in Europe, USA and China. Processing techniques involve functional- and bio-ceramics to metallic powder particles of nano- to micro-sizes. Modelling methodologies range from atomistic first-principles simulations to macroscopic finite element analysis. The range of activities and the unique strength of closely coupled experimental and theoretical approaches at the ICP establish it as one of the world-leading groups in this important subject area.

With this renewal, the investigators shall further expand and integrate their key research projects in a collaborative research platform for much added value; to enhance their international stance in the research theme and to facilitate strategic changes of research, directing them into tangible and potentially urgent applications, geared towards clean energy generation and storage and advanced processing, particularly in biomaterials.