Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. EPSRC is part of UK Research and Innovation 19 Home improvements

Science and engineering for a hi-tech low carbon world

Aston Martin DB11 – the supercar with green credentials Self-sufficient buildings powered by sunshine Mark Miodownik on the circular economy of plastics Squeezing more juice from electric vehicle batteries Recycling eggshells into plastics makes cracking savings 3D-printed metals for stronger, lighter manufacturing Self-healing, longer-lasting concrete

INSIDE: Chickens Cheetahs Cows Cooking Colds Coffee Crops Cars Cops Clothes Cogs Crags Circles Cubes CONTENTS 4-5: News Recent EPSRC/UKRI research and training investments 9 24 6-9: What we’ve learned Snapshots of EPSRC-supported research 10-23: People Movers, shakers and science in action – from 3D-printed microscopes to self-cleaning windows 24-25: Circular solutions Science writer James Burgon puts the case for a circular UK economy 26-33: Saving our energy EPSRC’s energy portfolio is driving cutting-edge low carbon research and innovation 34-35: Power plants EPSRC-funded green energy projects 36-37: Double the benefit Amazing results from a hi-tech EPSRC-supported irrigation project 38-41: The plastics paradox Mark Miodownik offers a solution to the environmental crisis we have created through our love affair with plastic 42-43: Plastics with potential EPSRC- 36 supported research into reusing, recycling and reinventing plastics 44-45: Hot metal Green manufacturing 44 tech that’s shaking and stirring the car industry 46-47: Made to last Low carbon solutions for more sustainable manufacturing 48-49: Building blocks 3D-printing tech 54 that’s a game-changer for the car and aerospace industries Global greening 50-51: Chicken coup There’s money to be made from waste foodstuffs – the Throughout the UK, EPSRC-supported scientists, mathematicians and engineers are pioneering greener, more sustainable solutions to some of the most pressing global environment benefits, too challenges – from ocean pollution to energy and water poverty. This edition of Pioneer 52-53: Running repairs Self-healing is dedicated to their work. concrete for a greener built environment Professor Lynn Gladden, Executive Chair, EPSRC 54-55: Smarter structures EPSRC’s investments in low carbon construction Editor: Mark Mallett ([email protected]) To provide feedback on this magazine, please e-mail Design: Angela Jones ([email protected]) [email protected] 56-61: Inner vision One platform Contributors: Dr James Burgon; Jo Enderby; Professor Lynn You can subscribe to print/electronic versions of Pioneer at technology, a host of green inventions Gladden; Gemma Hulkes; Karen Manning; Dr Ellen Meek; epsrc.ukri.org Professor Mark Miodownik; Professor Philip Nelson; Richard Pictures courtesy of thinkstock.com, istock.com and fotolia. 62: In profile EPSRC’s new Executive Tibenham; Tim Walker com unless otherwise stated Chair, Professor Lynn Gladden Contact: 01793 444305

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 2 Moving on EPSRC’s outgoing Executive Chair, Professor Philip Nelson, reflects on his time in office

It has been a scourge of antimicrobial resistance, giving dedicated people the freedom, tremendous to collaborating with social scientists, time and space to exercise their privilege to have biologists and environmental scientists curiosity and explore new ideas. led EPSRC for in emerging disciplines like synthetic I leave EPSRC’s executive team in the past four- biology, or robotics and artificial the knowledge that this commitment and-a-half years. intelligence. remains as strong as ever. Prior to becoming CEO, I knew the UKRI’s formation brings with it My overriding memory of my time at organisation tremendous opportunities for EPSRC to EPSRC will be having the privilege reasonably well, as I was Pro-Vice work more closely with Innovate UK, as of seeing at first hand some of the Chancellor for Research at the University so much of our portfolios are aligned. amazing research taking place at our of Southampton and a member of the Together we can ensure cutting-edge universities, and of meeting so many EPSRC User Panel, where I was the science and engineering research hugely talented people. academic voice among industrialists. can lead to commercial and technical application, and have national and I have witnessed what is probably I could see that the organisation was global impact – particularly through the coldest place in the universe at a very sound, with well-structured schemes like the government’s physics lab at Lancaster University; processes, an excellent executive Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund. and I have been somewhere as hot team and staffed by very dedicated as the sun at the Culham Centre for people who had built up a wealth of This focus on impact and application is Fusion Energy in leafy Oxfordshire; knowledge about the research portfolio spreading much wider. When visiting I have also experienced the power of and community. universities I have seen a genuine the oceans recreated at the University recognition of the need to engage But EPSRC is also hugely responsive; of Edinburgh’s FloWave Ocean Energy with both business and the public to Research Facility, which features a I have found that people will go that ensure that discovery-led science is extra mile, change the way they do 2.4 million-litre water tank capable of pulled through into innovation. In turn, synthesising wave conditions at sea. things, and rally around when things business is keen to work with the get difficult. brightest and best from academia – I have been hugely impressed by new From the off there have been something EPSRC has championed for advances in robotic surgery at Imperial challenging projects to deal with – many years. College London; by research into next- perhaps none more so than, as Chair generation 5G communications at the EPSRC’s Prosperity Partnerships, of Research Councils UK’s CEO Group, University of Bristol, and by exciting introduced in 2017, which bring helping to shape the agenda for UK technologies being developed at our academics together with leading Research and Innovation (UKRI), into quantum hubs, such as super-sensitive companies to tackle industry-led which all seven research councils, gravimeters which could help in the challenges, are a really good example Innovate UK and Research England early prediction of earthquakes. of how much industry values the merged in April 2018. fundamental research expertise in our As new Executive Chair, Professor As a £6 billion partnership of equals, universities and is prepared to add Lynn Gladden (see page 63), takes UKRI has the authority, resources and real financial support to government- the reins, I return to the University of people that can take UK research and backed investment. Indeed, this Southampton knowing that EPSRC is innovation to a higher plain. month we announced the second in very good shape, and has managed wave of investment in a new series of to adapt to the new environment while The formation of UKRI is particularly Prosperity Partnerships. retaining its core strengths. significant for EPSRC; our research portfolio provides the fundamental Notwithstanding the success of EPSRC can, and will, play a vital role scientific platforms for much of these initiatives, they would not have in setting the research and innovation the multidisciplinary research and come about were it not for EPSRC’s agenda, helping to ensure UK and innovation carried out across the commitment to its core mission – global prosperity. UK – from working with the Medical which is to support fundamental Research Council on ways to tackle the science and engineering research by Best wishes to all.

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 3 NEWS Recent UKRI & EPSRC investments

Recent UKRI investments EPSRC is coordinating a range of investments on behalf of UK Research and Innovation, the new body comprising all seven UK Research Councils, Research England and Innovate UK. New centrally-led initiatives include the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF), Future Leaders Fellowships and Innovation Fellowships. The Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund is part of the Government’s Industrial Strategy and a core pillar of its commitment to increase funding in research and development by £4.7 billion over four years. Delivered by UK Research and Innovation, ISCF brings together leading research and business to tackle the big societal and industrial challenges of today.

£900 million for UKRI Future energy and space, in environments which PRIF is managed by EPSRC, and Leaders Fellowship Scheme would otherwise be too hazardous for Innovate UK, working with the Waste and humans to enter without risk. Resources Action Programme to ensure UKRI is investing £900 million over coordinated leadership of the Fund. 11 years in a new fellowship scheme The hubs are supported by an additional to support future research leaders. £51.6 million from commercial and £39 million investment in future For the first time ever, this type of international partners including the UK research leaders scheme is open to business as well as Space Agency, which is co-funding one of EPSRC is overseeing the award of universities. The scheme is also open to the hubs. 74 EPSRC-UKRI Innovation Fellowships researchers worldwide, ensuring that to enable researchers to work in the UK continues to attract the most £42 million for EV battery partnership with industry in priority areas exceptional talent wherever they may research aligned to the Government’s Industrial come from. Four UK-based consortia have been Strategy challenges including Quantum Over the course of the next three years, awarded £42 million through the Technologies, Digital Manufacturing and 550 individuals drawn from academia Faraday Institution, the UK’s independent New Approaches to Data Science. and industry will be awarded UKRI national battery research institute, to By providing vital experience of Future Leaders Fellowships, which will conduct research aimed at accelerating the leadership and aiding the development of provide up to seven years of funding to electric vehicle (EV) revolution. help the next generation of technology entrepreneurial and enterprise skills, the entrepreneurs, business leaders and The topics for the projects were chosen in Fellowships, awarded to researchers at innovators achieve their potential. consultation with industry and will involve 37 universities, are designed to act as a 20 university and 25 industry partners, springboard to success for future leaders The fellowships include support for investigating extending battery life; battery in both academia and industry. part-time awards and career-breaks, system modelling; recycling and reuse; and A total of £38.8 million has been invested providing flexibility to researchers next-generation solid state batteries. to tackle ambitious and challenging from the Government’s National research questions. The Faraday Institution is funded by EPSRC Productivity Investment Fund to establish under the government’s £246 million the three-year fellowships, with more £68 million for robotics and AI investment in battery technology through than £8.1 million contributed by industry, The Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund. universities and other partners. Over has awarded £68 million to ground- 175 companies, 36 partner universities breaking multidisciplinary research £20 million for Plastics Research and 17 other partners including projects in artificial intelligence and and Innovation Fund government agencies and Catapult robotics, with £44.5 million of this centres will take part in the initiative. UKRI is delivering a £20 million Plastics allocated to four EPSRC-managed Research and Innovation Fund (PRIF) which Seven Fellows have been co-funded research hubs. brings together Britain’s best scientists by the Biotechnology and Biological The hubs will develop robotic solutions and innovators to help move the country Sciences Research Council, and to enable safer working conditions in towards more circular economic and four by the Arts and Humanities sectors such as offshore energy, nuclear sustainable approaches to plastics. Research Council.

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 4 NEWS Recent UKRI & EPSRC investments

New Prosperity Partnerships £14 million for data science launched research £184 million investment in doctoral training EPSRC is co-investing in seven new EPSRC is investing £14 million in five Prosperity Partnerships that will build new research projects that take novel Forty-one UK universities will share links between the UK’s research base approaches to challenges in data science, in a £184 million EPSRC investment and leading industry partners such as including the development of new machine- in training the next generation of AkzoNobel, AstraZeneca, Google, Rolls- learning methods and novel mathematics engineers and scientists. Royce, Tata Steel, and Weir Group, plus to obtain meaning from the ‘shape’ of data. The Doctoral Training Partnerships small-to-medium enterprise, Oxford PV. The projects, led by the University of (DTPs), previously known as Doctoral EPSRC’s investment of £20.4 million has Glasgow, Lancaster University, the Training Grants, will be awarded been complemented by £16.8 million from University of Liverpool, and the University to universities for the provision of industry partners and £4.9 million from of Oxford, will bring together statisticians, doctoral study and are allocated over universities involved in the research. computer scientists and environmental a two-year period on the basis of EPSRC research grant income and scientists, alongside public and private Among research challenges, the new fellowships. sector partners and stakeholders. round of investment will seek to develop The flexibility of the DTP allows new materials for solar panels; new The multidisciplinary research involves universities to generate additional bio-catalysts for use in the production of companies and public bodies such as funding, for example from industry, medicines; and more sustainable coatings GSK, Unilever, Skyscanner, Dstl, the Met and potentially support higher and paints. Office and Public Health England, which numbers of students. are contributing a further £3.7 million Prosperity Partnerships are EPSRC’s investment, and includes a further EPSRC supports 9,000 postdoctoral flagship approach to co-investing with £500,000 from the Natural Environment students each year, either via DTPs, business in long-term, user-inspired basic Research Council. Centres for Doctoral Training or research. They are five-year, multi-million Industrial CASE studentships. pound research collaborations on topics of national and global importance which have £6.6 million for new engineering Approximately 80 per cent of doctoral been co-created by leading UK universities students, once they have completed EPSRC is investing £6.6 million in 28 highly their PhDs, go on to employment in and businesses with a strong research original projects as part of its Engineering presence in the UK. business and public services, or into for a Prosperous Nation agenda, which academia. The first wave of Prosperity Partnerships, aligns with the Government’s Year of in 2017 saw a combined investment of Engineering theme. £78 million in eleven cutting-edge Researchers at 17 universities from a research projects ranging from digital £16 million for international diverse range of fields and across all healthcare technologies infrastructure networks to offshore wind career stages will lead projects such technologies. as the use of novel materials to create EPSRC and the National Institute for Health artificial leaves for use in solar power Research (NIHR) are investing £16 million generation, the investigation of new in 15 projects to develop new healthcare £20 million for NMR equipment solutions to antimicrobial resistance in technologies to tackle international wastewater systems, the development health challenges. EPSRC is co-investing £20 million of intelligent driver seats to act as co- in very high and ultra-high field The projects address two key needs: pilots in autonomous cars, and the use of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) affordable portable imaging and tools for diamond quantum technology to investigate spectroscopy equipment at eight disease diagnosis; and low cost reliable neurological diseases. UK universities. prosthetics and orthotics for low and middle income countries. They range The equipment, which has been £5.5 million for ED&I projects from the development of prosthetics for co-funded by the Biotechnology EPSRC is investing £5.5 million in refugees fleeing Syria who have large and Biosciences Research Council, 11 projects aimed at improving equality, bone loss injuries, to faster diagnosis the Medical Research Council and diversity and inclusion (ED&I) in UK and treatment of parasitic diseases such the Natural Environment Research universities. as malaria. Council, will enable researchers to study materials and molecular The Inclusion Matters initiative is the first The projects are funded by EPSRC through structures to unprecedented levels of its kind, and is part of the collective the Global Challenges Research Fund of precision. approach by UK Research and Innovation to and by NIHR through its Global Health address diversity and equality challenges. Research programme.

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 5 THINGS WE’VE LEARNED To find out more, type the Keywords into your favourite internet search engine

War on waste Upping the Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a complex disease that affects millions of animals and costs an estimated £80 million annually in the UK alone. cyber ante Researchers at the University of EPSRC-supported researchers at the University of Bristol are using artificial Sheffield have solved a key puzzle in intelligence (AI) methods for early BRD diagnosis in dairy calves. quantum physics that could help to The team believe that a trained AI system will make data transfer totally secure. be capable of recognising subtle changes The team have developed a way of in temperature patterns leading to generating very rapid single-photon automated detection of BRD much light pulses. Each photon, or particle earlier than at present, as of light, represents a bit of binary well as have the ability to code – the fundamental language of alert vets and farmers in computing. These photons cannot be a timely manner. They are intercepted without disturbing them in confident their research a way that would alert the sender that will result in prototype products something was amiss. capable of commercialisation. Keywords: Sheffield photon data Keywords: Bristol AI calves transfer

New insights into Earth’s formation An international team of scientists have discovered fresh insights into the metallic core at the centre of our planet. The Robochemist findings could aid understanding Researchers at the University of of how Earth was formed from Glasgow have built a robotic device elements in space, some which uses artificial intelligence to 10 billion years ago. discover new molecules. The research may help to The machine is learning to create explain why Earth is the only chemical reactions that could lead planet known to have an to new medicines and materials. abundance of nitrogen in its It works initially with a human atmosphere – where it exists as chemist to find promising new a gas. Nitrogen in the air could types of molecules. Then artificial emerge from deeper within the intelligence takes over and the planet, where, for example, it could mix with other liquid metal. The findings robot sets off to discover new could also shed light on how the planet’s atmosphere evolved and how it may molecules on its own. develop in future. Keywords: AI-driven chemistry The study, carried out by the University of Edinburgh with researchers in China and the US, was supported by EPSRC and the British Council. Keywords: Edinburgh Earth’s core

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 6 Gelling cells Robots for nuclear sites EPSRC-supported It is estimated that up to £200 billion will be researchers at Imperial spent on the clean-up and decommissioning College London and of nuclear waste over the next 100 years. Loughborough University Now, EPSRC-supported computer scientists have used lasers to at the Univeristy of Lincoln are developing connect, arrange and artificial intelligence systems to enable merge artificial cells, self-learning robots to be deployed in place of paving the way for humans in hazardous nuclear sites. networks of artificial cells that act like tissues. Tackling challenges such as waste handling, cell decommissioning and site monitoring, the team’s machine- The team say that by altering artificial cell learning algorithms will enable vision-guided robot grasping, membranes they can now get the cells to stick manipulation and cutting, mobile robot navigation, outdoor together like ‘stickle bricks’ – allowing them to mapping and navigation. be arranged into whole new structures. Keywords: Lincoln nuclear robots Merging cells in this way could allow whatever chemicals they are carrying to mix within the new, larger cell, kicking off chemical reactions. This could be useful, for example, for delivering materials such as drugs into cells, A cure for the common cold? and in changing the composition of cells in real EPSRC-supported researchers at Imperial time, getting them to adopt new functions. College London have lab-tested a molecule that can combat the common cold virus by Keywords: Imperial stickle bricks preventing it from hijacking human cells. Early lab-based tests with human cells have shown the molecule’s ability to completely block multiple strains of cold virus, and Thermal camouflage the team hope to move to animal and then human trials. A drug based on this research could be extremely beneficial if given early in infection, and the team are working on making a version that could be inhaled, so that it gets to the lungs quickly. Keywords: Imperial common cold

Lifesavers Inspired by nature, EPSRC-supported scientists Manchester Metropolitan at The University of Manchester, working University researchers have used with colleagues from the US and Turkey, have advanced computer modelling to developed a thin, lightweight and flexible film, better understand how to safely made from ‘wonder material’ graphene, that launch and retrieve lifeboats from can outfox infrared cameras, allowing hot bigger ships. bodies to appear cool and cold items to appear warm. The invention can also help camouflage The team used a computational an object by making it appear the same fluid dynamics modelling tool temperature as its background. to identify and reduce the risk of collision and unacceptable The design, which can adapt to its surroundings, motions during marine launch was inspired by the colour-shifting capabilities and recovery operations, both civil of cuttlefish, and could also be useful for covering and military. radiators on satellites, allowing them to be tweaked to reflect heat when facing the sun Funded by EPSRC, the project was short-listed for an award in and emit excess heat when facing deep space. The Engineer magazine’s annual Collaborate to Innovate awards. Keywords: Manchester cuttlefish infrared Keywords: Metropolitan lifeboat modelling

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 7 THINGS WE’VE LEARNED To find out more, type the Keywords into your favourite internet search engine

Electronic circuits in fabric An international team of researchers have successfully Graphene photosynthesis incorporated washable, stretchable and breathable Researchers at The University of Manchester have electronic circuits into fabric, opening up new possibilities discovered another new and unexpected physical for smart textiles and wearable electronics. effect in ‘wonder material’ graphene – membranes The circuits were made with that could be used in devices to artificially mimic cheap, safe and environmentally photosynthesis. friendly inks, and printed using The new findings demonstrated an increase in conventional inkjet printing the rate at which the material conducts protons techniques. when it is simply illuminated with sunlight. The The research was led by ‘photo-proton’ effect, as it has been dubbed, could EPSRC-supported scientists from be exploited to design devices able the University of Cambridge Graphene Centre, working to directly harvest with colleagues in Italy and China with funding from solar energy international sources, including the Chinese Government. to produce They demonstrated how graphene – a two-dimensional hydrogen gas, a form of carbon – can be directly printed onto fabric promising green fuel. Other to produce integrated electronic circuits which are possible applications include comfortable to wear and can survive up to 20 cycles in light-induced water splitting and a typical washing machine. photo-catalysis. Keywords: Cambridge graphene textiles Graphene is a sheet of carbon atoms just one atom thick with numerous unique physical and mechanical properties. It is an excellent conductor of electrons and Jumping jive can absorb light of all wavelengths. EPSRC-supported researchers at The University of Keywords: Graphene photosynthesis Manchester have unlocked the secrets of how some predatory spiders catch their prey whilst hunting by successfully training a spider to jump different distances and heights for the first time. The study is the most advanced of its kind to date and the first to use 3D CT scanning and high-speed, high- One-hour liver damage test resolution cameras to record, monitor and analyse a A rapid blood test that spider’s movement and behaviour. can detect liver damage In addition to answering the question of why jumping before symptoms appear spider anatomy and behaviour evolved the way it did, the has been designed and team are using this improved understanding to imagine a verified using clinical new class of agile micro-robots that would be unthinkable samples by a team from using current engineering technologies. UCL and the University of Massachusetts, Keywords: EPSRC spider jumping Amherst. The researchers, co-supported by EPSRC, the Royal Society and healthcare partners, say the test could address a huge need for early detection of liver disease as it distinguishes between samples taken from healthy individuals and those with varying degrees of liver damage. They hope it could be used on a routine basis in GP surgeries and hospital clinics to screen people with an elevated risk of liver disease, so that they can access treatment before it’s too late. Keywords: UCL Amherst liver

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 8 Hand that sees scoops Bug crushers EPSRC-supported researchers at international award UCL, working with colleagues from the National Physical Laboratory and with support from Diamond Light Source, have created an artificial virus which kills bacteria on first contact, and could help in the global fight against antibiotic resistance, with more than 700,000 people across the world dying from drug-resistant infections every year. This new virus is built using the same geometric principles that determine structures of naturally occurring viruses. The resulting synthetic virus acts as an incredibly small spherical ‘drone’ that, A bionic hand that can ‘see’ objects and pick upon recognising bacterial cells, attacks their cell walls with them up by itself has won a prestigious 2018 bullet speed and efficacy. Netexplo UNESCO Award in Paris. Keywords: NPL artificial virus Selected from over 2,000 innovations from around the world, the hand has been given the award in recognition of its “potential to have a profound and lasting impact on society”. Plasma tackles allergens Developed with EPSRC funding by biomedical It is estimated that over 12 million engineers at Newcastle University led by people in the UK alone suffer from Dr Kianoush Nazarpour (pictured), the new allergies as a result of airborne generation of prosthetic limb allows the wearer allergens, with a cost to the economy to reach for objects automatically, without of around £7.1 billion per annum thinking, just like a real hand. It is fitted with a through lost productivity. camera which instantaneously takes a picture EPSRC-supported researchers at the of the object in front of it, assesses its shape University of Liverpool, led by Dr James and size and triggers a series of movements in Walsh, are developing a device that the hand. harnesses the power of cold plasma to Keywords: Newcastle bionic hand destroy airborne allergens on contact. The team hope the low-cost device could significantly improve the quality of life for a vast number of people. New form of carbon Keywords: James Walsh allergen A new form of carbon created by scientists at Lancaster University and China’s Jilin University Bone sugar could be utilised to Scientists at the University of York have shown that altering the improve the safety, structure of sugar chains on the surface of stem cells could help power, charge speed and promote bone growth in the body. The new discovery could have lifespan of batteries for important implications for future treatments of osteoporosis. phones, computers and electric vehicles. This is the first time that these sugar chains have been connected to bone During their work, growth and could pave the way for the team, who were new investigations into possible future supported by EPSRC, the Royal Society and treatments for osteoporosis, where bone the National Natural Science Foundation of strength is a particular issue. China, realised that one of the forms of carbon they had created could store a large volume of The research was supported by Arthritis lithium ions and also conduct electricity. Research UK and funded by EPSRC. Keywords: Lancaster new carbon Keywords: York bone sugar chains

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 9 PEOPLE

Sandwiches’ colossal carbon costs

According to the British Sandwich discarded at home and elsewhere in The study concludes that the carbon Association, every year in the UK we the supply chain. footprint of the snacks could be eat over 11.5 billion sandwiches, reduced by as much as 50 per cent if a The team’s results show the largest spending £8 billion in the process, combination of changes were made to contributor to a sandwich’s carbon at an average cost of £2 per snack. recipes, packaging and waste disposal. footprint is the agricultural production That’s a lot of dough. and processing of its ingredients. Extending sell-by and use-by dates If you find these figures startling, Depending on the type, this can would help prevent at least 2,000 consider this: our annual sandwich account for between 37-67 per cent tonnes of sandwich waste annually. consumption equates to 9.5 million of CO equivalent for ready-made 2 Professor Azapagic says: “Commercial tonnes of CO emissions – equivalent sandwiches. 2 sandwiches undergo rigorous shelf- to the annual use of 8.6 million cars Sandwiches containing meat are the life testing and are normally safe for – according to EPSRC-supported worst culprits, all over 1,000g of CO consumption beyond the use-by date research at The University of 2 equivalent each. stated on the label. Manchester led by Professor Adisa Azapagic (pictured). Keeping sandwiches chilled in shops “You could also consider making a and supermarkets also significantly home-made sandwich as our results The research team arrived at these contributes to their carbon footprint show that, like-for- findings after conducting the first-ever and their equivalent greenhouse like, the carbon study looking at the carbon footprint gas emissions. footprint is half that of the sandwiches we consume. They of the commercial considered the whole life cycle of Packaging material comes in at up sandwich.” sandwiches, including the production to 8.5 per cent, and transporting of ingredients, sandwiches and their materials and refrigerating sandwiches Keywords: Sandwich packaging, as well as food waste themselves adds a further four per cent. carbon footprint

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 10 Professor Athanassios Fokas, an Pulling power EPSRC-supported mathematician from the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge, has introduced a new methodology suggesting a solution to one of the greatest open problems in the history of mathematics. His completely new approach suggests the validity of the 110-year-old Lindelöf hypothesis. The result has far-reaching implications for fields like quantum computing, number theory and encryption, which forms the basis for cybersecurity. Keywords: Fokas hypothesis

Chemical engineer, Dr Kyra Sedransk Campbell, an EPSRC/Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Research Fellow at University of Sheffield researchers, funded changes in temperature. Silk, however, can Imperial College London, has been by EPSRC and the EU, have shown that solidify into a fibre at room temperature awarded the prestigious Nicklin animals spin silk by pulling rather than and leave only water behind – causing less Medal from the Institute of Chemical pushing it out of their bodies. They suggest environmental damage. Engineers for being an outstanding that if this process can be copied in an PhD student Jamie Sparkes, who is the young researcher and role model. industrial setting, it could improve how lead author of the group’s paper on the The medal is an international award synthetic materials are processed and offer research, says: “Silk is one of the most made to an outstanding early career more environmentally-friendly alternatives. promising green biomaterials, and could researcher. Research leader, Dr Chris Holland, says: be the perfect replacement for nylon and Keywords: Kyra Nicklin “If I gave you a piece of chewing gum and polyester-based clothing. asked you to make me a fibre, you wouldn’t As part of their mission to raise push it through your teeth as it’s too stiff. “The traditional production process for silk awareness of electronic waste with You’d grab one end and pull it out – and is both arduous and time-consuming, but a range of audiences, researchers that’s what the silkworm and spider do.” if we can bypass that by mimicking nature from the EPSRC-funded Closed Loop in an industrial setting, we could improve Synthetic textiles are currently made by Emotionally Valuable E-waste Recovery not only silk, but also how we process our pushing a liquid raw material through a (CLEVER) project devised an interactive synthetic materials.” dye. The liquid is solidified by exposing game, based on the popular children’s it to harsh chemicals and through high Keywords: Sheffield silk pulling game ‘Operation’. The game has been successfully road- tested at events such as Glastonbury Festival. CLEVER involves researchers Predictive policing from the Universities of Bath, An EPSRC-supported consortium Newcastle, Surrey and Loughborough. including mathematicians, policing Keywords: CORE e-waste game partners and social scientists has been formed to improve ‘predictive EPSRC-supported scientists at the policing’ and tackle other challenges University of Glasgow, led by Professor for future cities. David Cumming, have developed a Star Trek-inspired handheld ‘tricorder’ for Predictive policing uses maths and use in medical diagnostics. statistics to predict times and places that serious crimes will occur based The device, based on a silicon chip, on historical crime data in a given area, pairs a handheld sensor with a allowing police to efficiently allocate Project leader, Professor Mark Girolami, smartphone app to measure the levels resources. from Imperial College London, says: “With of various metabolites in fluid samples more powerful models we can start to from patients. The team say the The team are drawing on the results of predict not just where, but when, and what breakthrough could help make rapid, a highly successful trial in Los Angeles type of crime is likely to occur.” sophisticated medical diagnostics more and are confident they can improve accessible to people around the world. on these. Keywords: EPSRC predictive policing Keywords: Glasgow tricorder

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 11 PEOPLE

3D-printed microscope

Dr Richard Bowman, an EPSRC- at the Cavendish Laboratory at the long and boring process of examining supported researcher at the University University of Cambridge, and was kick- individual samples through an of Bath, has developed a game- started by £5,000 in seed funding from eyepiece. Dr Bowman says: “The changing high quality microscope, an ambitious interdisciplinary research microscope automatically scans the using consumer electronics and ultra- programme called OpenPlant. sample, and the technician pans low cost 3D-printed components. through the images on a screen Co-funded by EPSRC and the rather than through an eyepiece, At just £30, the device uses mass- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences looking for parasites – it’s like using produced lenses, a Raspberry Pi Research Council, OpenPlant seeks to Google Maps.” mini-computer and a 3D-printed underpin advances in UK agriculture plastic frame to reliably magnify up to and bio-production through the The technology has been applied 1.5 millionths of a metre. Not only is development and open sharing of by WaterScope, an award-winning it a fraction of the cost of alternatives, new tools and methods for plant not-for-profit start-up co-founded its open-source design is available to synthetic biology. by Dr Bowman and emerging from anyone with a 3D printer anywhere on the Cambridge Postdoc Business the planet, and could provide health With support from OpenPlant and Plan Competition, led by Cambridge workers in the developing world with the GCRF, Dr Bowman’s technology Enterprise and Entrepreneurial life-saving diagnosis tools for diseases has evolved into a family of low cost Postdocs of Cambridge. The company such as malaria. The project is funded 3D-printed microscopes, optical is using microscopy to bring safe through the UK Government’s Global devices and accessories found in drinking water to rural and urban Challenges Research Fund (GCRF). community labs, schools, social settings, and bring about better enterprises and research labs diagnostics for public health and Dr Bowman says: “The biggest worldwide. sanitation in the developing world. challenge has been to achieve repeatable, precise positioning of As well as low cost models, the With support from EPSRC and the samples using roughly manufactured microscope can be equipped with Royal Academy of Engineering, plastic parts, but we have managed motors and objective lenses to make WaterScope is taking automation to the to do this, enabling people to quickly an instrument that’s at home in a next level through the development of a manufacture a precision device on research environment. simple-to-use bacterial imaging device location without large start-up costs.” which employs image recognition The hybrid screen-based design technology to automatically identify Dr Bowman, an optical physicist, uses a modified webcam as the and count bacterial colonies. conceived the idea during a Research optical detector, making it possible Fellowship from the Royal Commission to automate part of what can be a Keywords: Bowman microscope

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 12 Dr Louise Jennings has led EPSRC- supported research at the University Metal morphers of Leeds to develop a new ISO global standard for total hip-joint prostheses that recognises the need for them to some way off. More immediate be tested beyond the ‘normal’ walking applications could include gait to better predict the risk of failure reprogrammable circuit in patients. Medical device and implant boards and conductive ink. companies must obtain a CE mark to sell their product in Europe, with The electric fields used to shape the similar approaches taken for sales in liquid are created by a computer, EPSRC- the USA. supported meaning that the position and shape of Keywords: Jennings hip prostheses researchers at the liquid metal can be programmed and controlled dynamically. the University of People living in flood-prone areas Sussex and Swansea Yutaka Tokuda, the Research Associate could benefit from new statistical University have working on this project at the University models being developed by EPSRC- invented a way to morph of Sussex, says: “This is a new class of supported researchers at Lancaster liquid metal into physical programmable materials in a liquid University and the University of Oslo, led shapes. state which can dynamically transform by Dr Christian Rohrbeck. from a simple droplet shape to many The team say the findings represent The model improves on existing flooding other complex geometries in a an “extremely promising” new class of models by more accurately capturing controllable manner. materials that can be programmed to the relationship between the number seamlessly change shape. This opens “While this work is in its early stages, of insurance claims and weather up new possibilities in soft robotics and the compelling evidence of detailed 2D conditions. shape-changing digital displays. control of liquid metals excites us to Keywords: Lancaster Oslo flood While the invention might bring to mind explore more potential applications in the film Terminator 2, in which the title computer graphics, smart electronics, Professor Richard Bowden, from the character morphs out of a pool of liquid soft robotics and flexible displays.” University of Surrey, is leading EPSRC- supported research to develop the metal, the creation of 3D shapes is still Keywords: Yutaka metal world’s first machine capable of turning British Sign Language into written English. The project aims to recognise the signer’s hand motion and shape, Low-cost health sensor facial expression and body posture. Keywords: Bowden BSL An international team of researchers led manufactured by Dr Anna-Maria Pappa (pictured) at the at a lower cost EPSRC-funded doctoral students were University of Cambridge have developed a and can be easily among the winners at the 2018 STEM low-cost sensor made from semiconducting incorporated for Britain competition at the Houses of plastic that can be used to diagnose or in flexible and Parliament, among them Helen Parker, monitor a wide range of health conditions, stretchable from the University of Edinburgh, who such as surgical complications or substrates, won the £3,000 gold award for physics neurodegenerative diseases. enabling their and was also named overall winner. Louise Mason, from the University of The sensor can measure the amount of implementation Glasgow, won the £3,000 gold award for critical metabolites, such as lactate or in wearable or engineering, Michelle Teplensky, from glucose, that are present in sweat, tears, implantable sensing applications. the University of Cambridge, won the saliva or blood. Dr Pappa says: “An implantable device £1,250 chemistry silver award and could allow us to monitor the metabolic When incorporated into a diagnostic device, Evan Sheridan won the bronze award activity of the brain in real time under stress the sensor could allow patient health for physics. conditions to be monitored quickly, cheaply conditions, such as immediately before The STEM awards, which aim to help and accurately. a seizure.” politicians understand more about the The new device has a far simpler design The project was funded by EPSRC, the UK’s thriving science and engineering than existing sensors, and opens up a Marie Curie Foundation and the KAUST base, offer an unparalleled opportunity wide range of new possibilities for health Office of Sponsored Research. Project for early-career researchers to monitoring down to the cellular level. partners include King Abdullah University of showcase their work and engage Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia. Since the sensor does not consist of with MPs. metals such as gold or platinum, it can be Keywords: Anna-Maria Pappa blood Keywords: 2018 STEM for Britain

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 13 PEOPLE

Juice extractors

Brill Power, a spin-out company from Large lithium battery packs are usually In 2017, Brill Power was selected to the University of Oxford, has developed limited by their weakest cells, which lead a consortium to develop batteries award-winning technology that degrade at different rates. As the cells for the electrification of vehicles as part increases the lifetime and reliability of are connected in series, the battery is of the £246 million Faraday Battery multi-cell battery packs while avoiding as weak as its weakest cell. Challenge, led by EPSRC, Innovate UK over-engineering. Christoph says: “We devised an and the Advanced Propulsion Centre, Formed to bring to market EPSRC- intelligent control system that can under the Government’s Industrial supported research led by Professor extend the lifetime of multi-cell Strategy Challenge Fund. David Howey, the company is tackling batteries by up to 60 per cent while The company has also joined forces a major failing in conventional lithium- maintaining high performance. We do with E-Car, the UK’s leading low- ion batteries – limited lifetime and that by individually managing every cell emission car club, to explore ways diminishing storage capacity. in a battery pack. to enhance battery manufacture and The company’s CEO, Christoph Birkl, “It’s estimated the technology could performance of electric vehicles. who co-founded Brill Power after help save up to 23 million tonnes of finishing his PhD in Professor Howey’s Christoph says: “We have to improve CO2 equivalent annually by 2020 if all group at Oxford, says: “Batteries are lithium batteries were equipped with it.” batteries… we have to make sure we generally perceived as a green way to can get them to be as efficient as store and transport energy. But there is The company has won a host of awards possible, get every joule of energy out including the top prize at the Shell New also the important fact that producing of them to make them live as long as batteries takes a lot of thermal energy Energy Challenge 2017. It was also the cars live.” and lots of materials, some of which chosen to showcase its technology at are nasty chemicals.” the European Parliament in Brussels. Keywords: Brill Power

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 14 EPSRC-supported researchers at Water from sand Heriot-Watt University have launched an online mapping survey to help their research into mitigating the negative impact that environmental noise has on city dwellers’ health and wellbeing. The team, led by Dr Sarah Payne, wants residents in Edinburgh, Brighton & Hove and Sheffield to go online and identify the quietest and calmest parts of the cities. This will establish whether the councils and public agree over which areas are quiet or calm, and determine the best criteria to identify those areas. Keywords: HW Payne survey

EPSRC-supported scientists at Imperial College London have designed a way for bacteria that don’t usually live together – such as those that normally live on the skin, and those that live in the sea – With EPSRC funding, Dr Alison Parker, from Dr Parker says: “There is an assumption to communicate with each other. Cranfield University, is investigating the use that the water quality is protected by the of ‘sand dams’ in countries with acute water sand, but this has not been tested. The research, co-led by Dr Guy-Bart problems to provide a source of clean water Stan and Dr Karen Polizzi, could pave “We know that pathogens are removed by close to people’s homes, particularly in the way for engineering new bacteria biological processes when water is passed countries such as Kenya. systems to aid a number of processes, through clean sand – this principle of slow such as producing green energy. Sand dams are impermeable concrete sand filtration is used in conventional Keywords: Guy-Bart bacteria structures constructed across seasonal water treatment. rivers in order to trap both water and “Through field measurements, laboratory Drug discovery could be significantly sediment (sand) behind them during rain experiments and computer modelling accelerated thanks to a new high storms. The water is stored in the spaces we are testing the hypothesis that water precision machine-learning model, between the sand grains and extracted in a sand dam is not only protected from developed by an international using a well during the dry season. With no contamination, but its quality is improved as collaboration of researchers, including standing water, there are fewer threats from it passes through the sand.” Dr James Kermode, an EPSRC- mosquitoes and other water-borne hazards. supported scientist at Warwick’s School However, there are to date no studies on the Keywords: Parker sand dam of Engineering. quality of water removed from sand dams. The system can predict whether or not a candidate drug molecule will bind to a target protein with 99 per cent accuracy. This is equivalent to predicting with Queen’s Award for Sheffield near-certainty the activity of hundreds of compounds after actually testing company them – by running only a couple of dozen tests. The new method could Ossila Limited, a company formed by lab components, accelerate the screening of candidate physicists at the University of Sheffield equipment and molecules thousands of times over. to bring EPSRC-supported research to materials to over 1,000 market, has been awarded the Queen’s research institutions Keywords: Kermode drugs Warwick in more than 80 Award for Enterprise for its outstanding Researchers from the University of achievements in international trade. countries. Central Lancashire, led by Dr Seren Co-founded by Professor David Lidzey The company’s sales have seen continuous Griffiths, are creating an augmented (pictured), Ossila’s solar cell prototyping growth over the past six years, and over 80 reality visual reconstruction of the platform has enabled researchers across per cent of total turnover is attributed to Neolithic Bryn Celli Ddu burial chamber overseas sales. The company’s workforce the world to create functional solar cells, in Northern Wales. The project is funded has also tripled. and advance research into renewable by EPSRC and the Arts and Humanities energy devices. Ossila now supplies its Keywords: Ossila Queen’s Research Council. Keywords: Seren Bryn Celli

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 15 PEOPLE

Scrap leader

Rhys Charles, who is studying for In a project sponsored by METech, and Knowledge Centre at Swansea an Engineering Doctorate at the Rhys demonstrated how platinum can University (see page 29), which is EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training be recovered from electronic devices, developing functional coatings for in Industrial Functional Coatings specifically thermocouples, which are glass and steel walls and roofs which (COATED), led by Swansea University, used to measure temperature. can generate, store and release energy. has found a way to repurpose the The metal is recovered in the form Rhys’s research led him to co-author precious metal, platinum, found in electronic devices such as laptops, of chloroplatinic acid. This acid can a report on the recovery of critical tablets and mobile phones, for use in be used in solar cell manufacture to raw materials from waste electrical solar cells. deposit a transparent layer of platinum and electronic equipment for the on the cells, which then controls the influential circular economy campaign His research has helped his sponsor chemical reactions and enables the group Waste and Resources Action company, METech Recycling, a cells to produce power. Programme (WRAP). Rhys was also provider of full-lifecycle electronic invited to join the Expert Advisory Rhys says: “We looked at getting equipment management services, Group for the Mapping Critical the components recycled, but found maximise financial and environmental Resources for Wales project on behalf there wasn’t suitable value that benefits. It has also informed the of the Welsh Government. Welsh Government’s policy on the was recoverable through traditional circular economy. recycling processes. So, instead of Gareth Liversage, METech Recycling’s recovering the platinum we turned it former site manager, says: “Rhys’s Precious and heavy metals such as directly into an added value compound time with us had a huge impact on platinum, palladium, gold, silver and – chloropatinic acid – which costs twice how our business performed. From copper are a key component in the the price of platinum, and was hence his analysis of materials we were able coatings that enable solar cells to worth repurposing.” to find the right end-process with the generate electricity efficiently. They maximum financial and environmental Rhys shared the fruits of his labour are, however, becoming increasingly return possible.” scarce as well as more expensive with colleagues from SPECIFIC, to procure. an EPSRC-supported Innovation Keywords: Rhys Charles circular

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 16 Professor Davide Mattia, from the Mouth plaster University of Bath, is developing a unique nanoporous metal foam that EPSRC-supported scientists uses sunlight to safely remove micro- from the University of pollutants from water without increasing Sheffield’s School of Clinical carbon emissions or producing toxic Dentistry, working with by-products. Copenhagen company Professor Mattia, who holds an EPSRC Dermtreat A/S, have Established Career Fellowship in Water developed a plaster which Engineering, is working with academic sticks inside the mouth and industrial partners to retrofit existing that could revolutionise the water treatment plants to accommodate treatment of oral conditions. this new technology. The unique biodegradeable Keywords: Mattia Bath pollutants patch, made from special Professor Anthony Bull, from Imperial polymers which are able College London, is investigating the to stick to moist surfaces, development of prostheses for through- can be used to administer knee amputees, such as landmine steroids directly to oral ulcers or lesions “Patients who have trialled the patch victims, with the aim of having them whilst also creating a protective barrier found it to be very comfortable to wear and manufactured locally in landmine- around the affected area, accelerating the they were really pleased with the length plagued countries such as Cambodia at healing process. of adhesion which makes it particularly effective and efficient.” low cost. Until now ulcers inside the mouth have Keywords: Anthony Bull Cambodia been treated using creams or mouthwashes Dermtreat A/S was recently awarded for the whole mouth, but these are often US$17.7 million from the venture capital Professor Jonathan Cooper, from the ineffective due to inadequate drug contact firm Sofinnova to take the patches into University of Glasgow, is developing times with the lesion. phase two clinical trials both in the US and paper DNA diagnostic tests and mobile- the UK. phone based imaging technology to Dr Craig Murdoch, who led the research, enable diagnosis of parasitic diseases in says: “Current treatments consist of using The company is also funding further remote locations. steroids in the form of mouthwashes, research at the Dental School to develop the next generation of patches that contain creams or ointments, but these are often Keywords: Glasgow paper DNA other useful drugs. ineffective due to inadequate drug contact Dr Ben Ward, an alumnus from times with the lesion. Keywords: Sheffield mouth plaster STREAM, the EPSRC Industrial Doctorate Centre for the water sector, and currently Drinking Water Asset Manager, South West Water, has Cat snapping been accepted into the Institute of With EPSRC funding, Professor Stephen Water’s ‘Rising Stars’ initiative, which Hailes from UCL, and Professor Alan recognises individuals in the UK water Wilson from the Royal Veterinary utility sector with the potential and drive College, developed GPS tracking collars to succeed within the water industry. and other smart technologies to monitor Keywords: Ben Ward Rising Star the behaviour of domestic and wild cats. Dr Dan Stowell, an EPSRC-supported The team worked closely with the BBC research fellow in machine listening at on two major TV series. For BBC One’s Big Cats, which unlocked the secrets Queen Mary University of London, has of wild cheetah behaviour, the collars developed Warblr, an app for mobile enabled 3D tracking and terrain analysis telephones and tablets which identifies using aircraft-mounted and UAV-based a UK bird from the recording made by systems. the user. For Horizon’s The Secret Life of the Cat, Dr Stowell hopes to take the computer which tracked the territorial behaviour analysis of the sounds birds make to a was repackaged into a form that was of domestic cats, the core technology new level, to discover more about the small and light enough to be carried by from the team’s wildlife collars, which social interaction that is going on. In a domestic cat. includes a GPS receiver, accelerometers, turn, this will help in the understanding gyroscopes and central processing unit, Keywords: Hailes Big cats of human speech evolution. Keywords: Warblr

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 17 PEOPLE

Tackling the toxins

University of Bath researchers have be used as a warning message that the only green, easy to operate and rapid, developed a low cost, sustainable and water is unsafe to drink. but also affordable to all.” recyclable device for detecting toxic The proof-of-concept device overcomes The research also involved compounds in water. The technology many of the problems associated with colleagues from the University of has far-reaching potential for use in testing water quality in the developing Bath’s Department of Mechanical parts of the world where access to safe world. It is easy to use and transport, Engineering, who designed the devices. drinking water is limited. weighs less than one gram and is Co-research leader, Professor Janet Inspired by the simplicity of litmus expected to cost no more than £1. It is Scott, whose team devised the paper – commonly used for the rapid also environmentally friendly since the materials used in the devices, says: assessment of acidity in water – the paper sensor is made of biodegradable “This is a great example of how team devised a way to screen-print components. scientists and engineers working biodegradable carbon electrodes onto The EPSRC-supported team, co-led closely together can develop useful a single piece of paper, creating a by Dr Mirella Di Lorenzo (pictured with technologies with the potential to cheap but effective microbial fuel the device), are now investigating how impact positively on the lives of cell (MFC). to link up the sensor with an electronic citizens globally.” MFCs use the natural biological device such as a mobile phone, via a The research received funding from processes of ‘electric’ bacteria to wireless transmitter, for a quick and EPSRC via the UK Government’s generate an electric signal. The team user-friendly way of identifying if a Global Challenges Research Fund, attached these bacteria to the carbon water supply is safe to use. and involved a partnership with the electrodes. When the bacteria are Dr Di Lorenzo says: “This work could Brazilian Nanotechnology National exposed to polluted water, a change in lead to a revolutionary way of testing Laboratory. the electric signal occurs, which can water at the point of use, which is not Keyword: Bath Di Lorenzo water

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 18 OpenCell, an innovative complex of 20 low cost, start-up studios built out of Hip mimic shipping containers, has been launched Around 80 million people worldwide near London’s Shepherd’s Bush suffer from hip osteoarthritis, of Market to provide affordable spaces for whom an increasing number require a innovators and entrepreneurs to build, replacement joint. test and demonstrate biotech-focused With EPSRC funding, University of Leeds innovations. researchers led by Dr Sophie Williams Conceived by Helene Steiner, a UK-based (pictured) are developing a mechanical designer, researcher and member of anatomical hip simulator to advance the EPSRC/BBSRC OpenPlant Forum, the understanding of hip shape and the project is co-funded and advised by motion and improve outcomes for hip Professors Paul Freemont and Richard replacement patients. Kitney, co-directors of SynbiCITE, an Professor Williams says: “Computer at Leeds, EPSRC-supported centre for synthetic simulations are great, and they enable to develop biology at Imperial College London. materials and us to go through lots of different Keywords: Biolab Steiner variables very quickly, but we need to structures understand what is physically happening designed to A multidisciplinary project team are to the materials. mimic human developing a microchip-based test for bone and tissue. the detection and monitoring of “This project is looking at mechanical breast cancer recurrence. The project, performance when you go to extremes of They are also motion, so not necessarily gymnastics, investigating co-funded by EPSRC and Cancer but maybe just bending down to tie the use of 3D-printing techniques to Research UK, is led by Dr Melpomeni your shoe laces, which can cause create material properties like those Kalofonou and Professor Chris impingement in the joint.” found in the natural human hip, in order Toumazou, from Imperial College to understand how it performs at the London, in collaboration with cancer The team are working with Professor extremes of loading and motion. specialists Professors Charles Coombes Russ Harris and Dr Rob Kay, both and Simak Ali, and with Professor advanced manufacturing engineers Keywords: Leeds hip simulator Jacqui Shaw from the University of Leicester. The system may help to predict the risk of breast cancer relapse and, repeated over the course of Smart textiles ease pain treatment, monitor disease progression and drug response, allowing treatment to be tailored to the patient. Keywords: Toumazou liquid biopsy

UCL researchers have developed a quick and simple test to predict which people with early-stage Parkinson’s disease are likely to develop dementia. The EPSRC-suppported research team, led by Dr Rimona Weil, developed their idea for the test after noticing that many people with Parkinson’s say they have trouble reading CAPTCHA images, an online security check using distorted text to tell humans and computers apart. Keywords: Weil cats and dogs The pain of millions of people living with sufferers self-manage their conditions, as With EPSRC support, Professor Paulo arthritis in the UK could be eased through well as feel better and live longer. Jorge Bartolo is developing low-cost new e-textile technologies being developed Dr Yang says: “Dry electrodes, printed onto biodegradable prostheses that can be by the University of Southampton’s Smart everyday clothing fabric, will deliver a small manufactured with 3D printing. The Electronic Materials and Systems group. electrical current to interfere with the pain University of Manchester project is to Dr Kai Yang (pictured) has been awarded signals and stimulate the release of the be directed at first at helping Syrian an EPSRC-UKRI Innovation Fellowship to body’s natural endorphins, easing the pain.” refugees who have lost limbs. develop e-textile technology to help arthritis Keywords: Kai Yang textiles Keywords: Bartolo prosthesis

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 19 PEOPLE PEOPLE PIONEER 19Autumn 2018 lotus leaf, hasa rough surface, and developed apaintthat,just like the Working atthenanoscale, theteam of makingitdirty. rain shower could clean acar instead but notmakingitwet. Inthisway, a dirt, virusesandbacteria, cleaning it the surface oftheleaf, they pickup droplets. Whentheseballsroll along that cause rainwater to ballinto tight whose leaves have stubbled surfaces properties ofplantssuchasthelotus takes itscuefrom thewater repelling team devised anew kindofpaintthat inspired bynatural processes, the Using cutting-edgechemistry and worktops andeven clothes. the technology includeself-cleaning clean themselves. Applications for such aswindows, to essentially technology thatenables surfaces, by UCLhave developed awayfor An international research team led Pane relief enough to withstand everyday damage. is findingaway to make them tough application ofself-cleaning surfaces biggest challenge for thewidespread Professor Carmaltsays:“The ingenious solutionto thisproblem. UCL team came up withasimple yet after they have beenapplied.The a new invention, most are short-lived While self-cleaning surfaces are not Carmalt (pictured). Professors Ivan Parkin andClaire into surface sciences atUCL,led by term EPSRCsupportofresearch The breakthrough buildsonlong- vacuum cleaner. roll off–actinglike aminiature droplets thatpickupdirtasthey is thatwater forms near-spherical makes thesurface waxy. Theeffect chemical called fluorosilane, which of water). They addedahydrophobic is ‘superhydrophobic’ (highly afraid Keywords: Carmaltcleaning and reduce heating bills.” window-cleaning costs intall buildings type ofsmartwindow thatcould cut hospital infections, andwithinanew antimicrobial coatings to combat applications includepaintfor cars, such ascar manufacture. Potential can bescaled-up for useinindustry available adhesives soourmethods “We paired thepaintwithcommercially to oil. being scratched, scuffed orexposed makes thepainteffective even after a robust self-cleaning surface that possible to make we’ve shown itis different adhesives pairing ourpaintwith off easily, butby weak andsorub to be mechanically The surfaces tend 20

Photography: Mark Mallett Researchers at Queen Mary University The hole story of London, led by Dr Julien Gautrot, have discovered that cells can ‘walk’ on liquids a bit like the way geckos stick to other surfaces. The research, co-funded by EPSRC and the Swedish Government, could lead to the design of a new generation of cell technologies for the improved production of adherent stem cells for regenerative medicine. Keywords: Cells walk on liquid

Scientists have developed a new predictive computer model which aims to Dr Valeska Ting (pictured), from the Existing porous materials can only store help reduce the prevalence of liver fluke University of Bristol, an EPSRC Early gas at very high pressures or very low disease, which can significantly impact Career Fellow, has led the development temperatures in order to carry the amount livestock production in farms, leading to of composite materials able to absorb of hydrogen needed for transportation, and an estimated £300 million annual loss and store hydrogen gas at high densities, so cannot be used at room temperatures. in productivity in the UK alone. potentially enabling the gas to be stored safely and compactly, making it suitable as Dr Ting says: “Hydrogen is a gas at room The research involves teams from the a fuel to power vehicles. temperatures and pressures, which takes University of Bristol, Queen’s University up a lot of volume. Because the gas is Belfast, the University of Liverpool The composites are made from stored within a solid material, you can carry and Scotland’s Rural College and was nanostructured carbons, metal-organic it around, instead of carrying a giant balloon funded by EPSRC, the Royal Society frameworks or zeolites, all of which have of hydrogen gas or a high pressure tank.” a high surface area and act like a and Bristol’s Cabot and Elizabeth sponge, absorbing hydrogen and storing The team estimate their new materials Blackwell Institutes. could store up to 10 times more hydrogen it in nanometre-sized pores at higher Keywords: Bristol liver fluke densities than is possible in gas form. at room temperature than existing materials, and could find application in EPSRC-supported scientists at the The team have incorporated active many other fields of research, such as in University of Glasgow have shown that responsive polymers into the composite, CO capture, controllable drug delivery and 2 nanoscale quantities of liquid can be which can change shape in response to smart packaging, and will enable Dr Ting to light, heat and magnetic fields. As the brought to a boil if they are shaken develop a new research area in active gas polymers shift, the pores in the composite trapping composites. at extreme speeds. The findings can be blocked or unblocked, enabling could in theory help improve systems hydrogen to move through them. Keywords: Ting zeolites that prevent the build-up of ice on aeroplanes; enhance cooling systems in smartphones; and make it possible Growing underground to develop appliances that dry clothes more quickly using less energy. Researchers from the EPSRC- The team, led by Dr Rohit Pillai, used supported Cambridge Centre for Smart the EPSRC-supported ARCHER UK Infrastructure and Construction (CSIC) National Supercomputing Service to run have developed a smart monitoring its simulations. system for Growing Underground, an award-winning urban farming facility, Keywords: Archer boil extreme speeds which is growing micro greens and salad On 21 May, 2018, Dr Melanie leaves in former WW2 air raid shelters Windridge, a plasma physicist and 120 feet below the streets of London. science communicator, whose PhD in The CSIC team, led by Dr Ruchi fusion energy was funded by EPSRC, Choudhary, installed wireless sensors and climbed to the summit of Mount web cams that monitor temperature, Everest. Her achievement is part of an

humidity, CO2, air velocity and light ongoing outreach project to help inspire in a section of the tunnel used for young people, especially girls, to reach growing crops. And the plants, fed new heights in science, technology, by hydroponic systems, are thriving. engineering, and mathematics (STEM) Keywords: Growing underground and business. Keywords: Windridge Everest

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 21 Picture courtesy Divine Novieto PEOPLE

Cooking with sunlight

More than 2.7 billion people in the Research Programme for Sustainable and charcoal. developing world use fossil fuels, such Development and the European APC, a Basically, you as coal, or biomass, such as wood and regulatory and development consultancy. are cooking with water, charcoal, as a primary cooking fuel. The CSEF team for this project, led by which is They do so out of necessity; it is the Professor Maria Kolokotroni, carried the only by- only fuel they can afford. out case studies in Ghana, Indonesia product.” But using these fuels can also be a and Jamaica in communities of matter of life and death, as soot and 20 households where they trialled the Families in smoke emissions are a primary cause solar hydrogen cooking unit as well as Jamaica are of serious health problems related a metal hydride storage system. now trialling a small-scale system using compressed to indoor air pollution. Factor in The system was sized to generate hydrogen gas cylinders. The team deforestation and greenhouse emissions enough hydrogen to provide for typical and the need for cleaner, affordable domestic cooking demand. The team’s are considering conducting similar cooking systems becomes obvious. findings indicated that 10 tonnes of research in African countries.

EPSRC-supported researchers at CO2 per year per household could be The main drawback at present is the the Centre for Sustainable Energy saved by replacing harmful biomass capital cost, although Dr Topriska Use in Food Chains (CSEF) at Brunel fuel with hydrogen. The results also points out that the cost of electrolytic University and researchers at the revealed substantial improvements hydrogen is projected to keep falling University of Technology Jamaica have in air quality and a reduction in year after year. greenhouse gas emissions. developed and tested a small solar She says: “It may be between 10 and hydrogen plant suitable for small Project researcher, Dr Evangelia 20 years before cooking systems like communities in the developing world. Topriska, now Assistant Professor at these can become a reality on a large Heriot-Watt University, Dubai Campus The kit is made up of solar panels, scale, but the potential is clear enough: (pictured), says: “Hydrogen is a clean an electrolyser and hydrogen storage if we can overcome the cost issues, and sustainable alternative to fossil cylinders suitable for household there is a viable way of tackling an age- fuels. It has no carbon emissions distribution. old killer and making a big difference and offers important improvements to the environment.” The multidisciplinary project was in health and quality of life. It also funded by the Caribbean & Pacific reduces deforestation for firewood Keywords: Topriska sunlight

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 22 A virtual reality colonoscopy developed by EPSRC-supported researchers at Cog logic the University of Sheffield could help clinicians to detect abnormalities in the University of Southampton digestive system. researchers have developed a low-cost oil quality sensor The technology, developed by which, when fitted to an engine, postdoctoral researcher, David Randall, monitors oil degradation. The enables clinicians to virtually travel sensor can help users, lubricant inside a patient’s colon, viewing its manufacturers and operators to mucosal surface with an Oculus Rift decide the exact time oil needs to virtual reality headset. be changed, saving them money, The research was featured on BBC and benefitting the environment. Radio Four’s flagship Today programme, The research is led by Professor Ling with presenter Justin Webb experiencing Wang (pictured), a leading expert the VR technology for himself. in tribology – the science of all Keywords: David Randall colonoscopy interacting surfaces in relative motion. The new oil sensor Professor Wang is also Deputy Head The Metropolitan Police Service is has been developed in of the EPSRC-supported national using an innovative new exercise that collaboration with Shell Centre for Advanced Tribology at teaches business leaders how to protect Global Solutions and Southampton, which aims to provide their companies from cyber attacks. colleagues in electronics real-world solutions to issues such The resource is based on a ‘game’ and computer science as industrial waste and extending developed by EPSRC-funded academics, at the university as part the lifespan of equipment. of a wider project to led by Professor Awais Rashid at the She says: “In any process where investigate oil quality and degradation. University of Bristol, in partnership with two materials rub against each the National Cyber Security Centre. Professor Wang says: “Our sensor other, tribology plays a part. Officers in the Met’s Fraud and Linked technology could significantly reduce the “To improve the performance of a amount of lubricants used by vehicles, Crime Online unit have adapted the material, we can modify its surface as well as cut down on maintenance game, which requires no prior cyber by adding a coating or changing security expertise to play, to be included the surface texture so that wear bills and help the environment.” in their regular cyber awareness is reduced.” Keywords: Wang oil sensors presentations given to businesses and other organisations. Keywords: Awais Rashid Met Police Grounds for hope A prototype device for gauging patients’ immunity to Ebola and Food emulsions, such as salad dressings other diseases has been developed by and mayonnaise, are a staple of most UK experts at Imperial College London kitchens. But all emulsions need led by Professor Molly Stevens, in a stabilising ingredient to prevent collaboration with UCL researchers. them from separating back into The device works in a similar way to their main component parts of oil and water. In mayonnaise, a pregnancy test. However, instead of for example, egg is the detecting hormones, it looks for an stabiliser. antibody called Immunoglobulin G, which is released following exposure to Dr Natalie Chiu and certain viruses. Professor Tim Foster at the EPSRC Centre for In addition to lab trials, the portable Innovative Manufacturing biosensor has been used in Uganda to in Food, led by analyse blood serum from survivors The University of previously exposed to the Ebola Nottingham, have virus. The device is connected to a shown that waste coffee smartphone for on-screen results, and grounds can be used to stabilise food proportion of the 550,000 tonnes of ground the trial test takes around 15 minutes, emulsions. coffee waste produced by UK coffee shops compared to around five hours using and households annually. conventional lab-based equipment. If this solution were adopted nationwide, it would enable reuse of a significant Keyword: Chiu CIM coffee Keywords: Imperial ebola sensor

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 23 CIRCULAR ECONOMY Circular solutions

Going round in circles is rarely considered efficient, but it could be just what our economy needs, argues science writer James Burgon

It is clear that our ‘disposable decoupled, fundamentally changing culture’ is unsustainable: the global how people consume products. So, middle-class is expanding and our how would you feel about never owning hunger for new products means we anything ever again? are rapidly burning through finite If a company prioritises consumer natural resources. This, in turn, is access to a product over ownership, it creating insecurities in global material can retain control over the resources markets and causing environmental it contains. For example, by selling damage through resource extraction, printing services not hardware, Xerox landfilling, and pollution. can reuse or recycle more than 90 What can we do to change this? Well, per cent of its equipment. Similarly, there is this one idea that may help: the Dutch company Mud Jeans leases it’s called the circular economy. rather than sells clothing, which is later returned by customers, shredded, In a circular economy, restoration and re-spun into ‘new’ denim. However, and recovery processes are used to despite such companies adopting increase the lifespan of products, aspects of the circular economy, a components and materials. This goes ‘business-as-usual’ approach will not beyond current recycling methods, facilitate a full economic transition. as the highest quality and value is extracted at each stage of a product’s Currently, most supply chains are life cycle: an engineered part is more linear, with each stakeholder only valuable than the raw materials that interested in their ‘link’ of the chain. comprise it. For example, around 80 per cent of a product’s environmental impact For example, rather than disposing is dictated by decisions made at the of an old or broken smartphone, a design stage. Changes here could circular phone would be designed for radically alter product reusability, but easy repair, component reuse, and there is no incentive to do so: gluing material extraction at end-of-life. together a smartphone makes it less Biological materials, like food and repairable than using screws, but it agricultural waste, can also be looped also makes it thinner, which is more through a value chain. For example, attractive to consumers. Therefore, any a process called anaerobic digestion company that adopts a more circular uses microorganisms to break down design in isolation may find itself at a bio-waste in the absence of oxygen. competitive disadvantage. This produces biogas, a renewable fuel, To overcome this obstacle, several and a nutrient rich slurry, which can organisations have emerged to be ‘mined’ for chemicals or used as a encourage cooperation along and crop fertiliser. across supply chains, such as the The theory is simple: once a resource Ellen MacArthur Foundation and enters a supply chain, it loops back WRAP (Waste and Resources Action through it indefinitely. However, to Programme). However, government achieve this kind of system, resource intervention will likely be required to use and economic growth must be make any significant change.

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 Although good domestic strategies are needed, it is important to remember that most supply chains are global and it will require international cooperation to make them circular. This has been recognised by the EU, which recently adopted a comprehensive Circular Economy Package. Given the economic strength of this political block, the initiatives included in this package will likely extend circular principles beyond EU member states. This is important, as the World Economic Forum estimates that a more circular economy could be worth over US$1 trillion per year to the global economy by 2025. Further, as circular products are designed to be an input for a new industry at end-of-life, waste is minimised and stable secondary materials markets are created. This could potentially lessen the tensions that arise between nations from the need to control territories rich in natural resources and also avoids the environmental impacts of resource extraction and pollution. Transitioning to a circular economy could deliver many economic, environmental and social benefits. However, it will take a coordinated A version of this article was international approach to achieve. published in theGist magazine, Consumers must change their and was specialist edited by Lorna Christie and copy edited by Katrina relationship with products, and Wesencraft. Dr James Burgon, governments and industries whose doctorate was supported by must be willing to work the Natural Environment Research together to put long- Council, is a science writer at the term sustainability National Physical Laboratory and co-author of a POST briefing on the and economic circular economy written for the stability above Parliamentary Office for Science short-term wins. and Technology. SUSTAINABLE ENERGY Saving our energy

If we’re serious about saving the planet for future generations, we have to get serious about how we generate, consume, store and safeguard our energy supply. EPSRC’s Head of Energy, Dr Jim Fleming, describes EPSRC’s sustainable energy commitments

Research is key to the UK achieving Funded under the UKRI Energy hydrogen fuel facilities that can a secure and affordable low carbon Programme, Supergen is a accommodate and sustain larger energy system while conserving our multidisciplinary research initiative quantities of renewable energy. natural resources, the environment covering a vast green energy landscape, Bioenergy and our quality of life. It is also vital to taking in areas such as climate ensuring continued economic growth change, fossil fuel extraction rates, Bioenergy – derived from either as the country moves toward a circular emissions control, and increasing burning or chemical treatment of economy, decarbonises its industry and public awareness of environmental biomass crops such as willow and transport sectors, and transitions away concerns. miscanthus, trees or agricultural from its dependence on fossil fuels. waste – is an exciting research area Focusing on collaborative research attracting some of the UK’s most EPSRC leads the UKRI Energy projects between industry and innovative researchers, among them Programme on behalf of all UK academia, Supergen is helping the Professor Jason Hallett, from Imperial Research Councils. Our £1.1 billion UK meet its environmental emissions College London. energy portfolio covers the full range targets through a radical improvement of speculative and user-led energy in the sustainability of the UK’s power With PhD student, Florence Gschwend, research, from biofuels, solar, tidal generation and supply. Professor Hallett formed a company, and wind energy to sustainable Chrysalix Technologies, to transform Research into renewable energy is energy storage and secure electricity unwanted waste wood into a low cost destined to play a pivotal role in the networks. Through our investments we raw material for use in the production UK power generation matrix. The are also nurturing the next generation of clean and inexpensive chemicals, scientists and engineers we support of highly skilled energy researchers. materials and fuels. He has also in this field are tackling a host of nurtured the careers of other members Supergen challenges, including the intermittent of his group, including Dr Clementine We have long recognised that solutions nature of solar and wind energy, the Chambon, who successfully balanced to the global energy conundrum need for power networks to be able to her PhD with her role as co-founder can only come through coordinated, adapt to a constantly changing input, and chief technologist of social multidisciplinary research. Which is and the decarbonisation of transport. enterprise Oorja, which is working to why, since 2003, we have led Supergen For example, the rapid increase in bring sustainably-generated electricity (see page 31), the UK’s flagship the number of electric vehicles on UK to rural India. research initiative in sustainable power roads will require the development generation and supply. of smarter electricity networks and Continued on page 28 SUSTAINABLE ENERGY

Continued from page 27 Catapult on projects such as improving work of Phil Sandwell, a PhD student the efficiency and reliability of wind at The University of Manchester’s To further support research in this turbines, and reducing intermittency Grantham Institute, and Professor dynamic field, in 2018 we invested of supply. Jenny Nelson, Head of the Institute’s in a new Supergen Bioenergy Hub, led by Professor Patricia Thornley Synaptec Ltd, a company co-founded mitigation team, who have worked with from Aston University. The hub brings by Dr Philip Orr, a former EPSRC- Oorja to replace kerosene oil lamps in together a network of academic, supported PhD student, has developed Indian villages with electric lighting. industrial and policy stakeholders to sensor-based optical fibre technology Energy storage maximise the environmental benefits for real-time monitoring and control of One method of reducing fossil fuel of sustainable bioenergy. offshore wind assets, such as turbines, which by their nature are remote consumption is to look at cheaper and Wind, wave and tidal energy and inaccessible. The technology more efficient alternative methods of Research into harnessing the wind significantly reduces companies’ storing and transporting renewable and tidal currents is already well operating costs. energy. EPSRC-supported research in this field has resulted in long-term established in the UK, which has the Solar greatest wind energy potential in impact over many decades. Solar energy is the only renewable Europe, and EPSRC supports world- For example, research in the 1980s by energy technology that, in theory, if leading research into the harvesting of Professors John Goodenough, Mike coupled with significant amounts of energy from waves and tidal streams. Thackeray, Peter Bruce and Bill David cheap and efficient energy storage, was pivotal in the development of the Among recent initiatives, in 2018 we could meet all of the world’s energy invested in a new Supergen Offshore needs. The researchers we support first commercial lithium-ion batteries, Renewable Energy (ORE) Hub, led continue to develop new technologies which have since transformed portable by Professor Deborah Greaves in this field, combining with industry electronic devices. Professor Bruce is OBE from Plymouth University. The to resolve challenges such as cost, also one of the pioneers of the Li-air hub brings together scientists and practicality and efficiency. Many have battery, which could hold the key for engineers working in wave, tidal and successfully steered their academic next-generation electric vehicles. offshore wind research to share the research to commercial application. skills, resources and expertise the Another pioneer is Professor Clare UK needs to maintain its leading For example, solar visionary Professor Grey, a chemist and expert in the position in this field. The team are Henry Snaith, from the University of application to materials of nuclear addressing technical, environmental Oxford, who pioneered the development magnetic resonance (NMR). She and and interdisciplinary challenges which of hybrid materials for energy and her team developed NMR methodology require a coordinated response at photovoltaics, formed Oxford PV to to monitor structural changes that national and regional level. bring his research to market. occur during the operation of a The company is now the acknowledged battery. Her research has helped us Among other EPSRC-funded projects, to understand how batteries charge Professor Greaves is co-leading an leader in the field of perovskite solar cells, which could transform the and discharge, and has clarified the initiative to investigate the effect of physical properties of a number of severe wave impacts on lighthouses economics of silicon solar energy technologically important materials. (see page 32). generation. She has also pioneered new battery Many of the challenges facing offshore Professor Snaith has received a host technologies including a prototype of honours for his work, which has renewable energy generation and supply lithium air battery. She is also co- initiated a new international research will be solved through the application founder of the Faraday Institution, field, and has the potential to bring of exciting new technologies such a new research institute set up solar energy to the market at a fraction as robotics and automation. Our through the Government’s Industrial of the cost of currently used materials. investments in this area include a Strategy Challenge Fund to research £4 million academia/industry Sunlight is a global resource, and the development, manufacture and consortium, led by The University of Oxford PV is a partner in a £7 million production of new electrical storage Manchester, investigating the use of EPSRC-funded consortium of 12 technologies for the automotive and robotics, artificial intelligence and UK and Indian universities helping other relevant sectors, making the UK other advanced technologies to run villages in India adapt their buildings the go-to place and world leader for and maintain offshore windfarms. to harness solar power for off-grid battery technology research. use. A key partner in this project is the To enable the speedy transition of SPECIFIC Innovation and Knowledge A coordinated initiative supported fundamental ORE research to Centre (see page 29). by EPSRC, with Innovate UK and the commercial application, we work closely Advanced Propulsion Centre, the with our UKRI partner Innovate UK Another example of the internationally and its Offshore Renewable Energy relevant nature of our portfolio is the Continued on page 30

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 28 Harnessing the power of the sun

Every day the sun provides enough energy The buildings-as-power-station concept to power our planet for 27 years. So why has already been proven to work, with the not capture that energy with everyday opening of an energy-positive classroom buildings – using coatings that generate, on the Swansea University Bay campus store and release it? which provides teaching space and a laboratory for students, as well as a This is the challenge being addressed building-scale development facility for by SPECIFIC, an EPSRC-supported SPECIFIC and its industry partners. Innovation and Knowledge Centre driven by a singular vision – that buildings could The award-winning classroom can run off be their own power stations. grid, with electricity generated by solar cells integrated into a perforated steel-clad This unique approach to the capture and roof. The cells are supplied by SPECIFIC consumption of solar energy is part of spin-out company BIPVco. Since launch, an integrated programme to develop low the classroom has generated more energy carbon and carbon-negative electricity and than it has consumed. heat systems. Following the success of the Active Supported by an initial £20 million Classroom, Innovate UK supported investment from EPSRC, Innovate UK the construction of the UK’s first energy and the Welsh Government, together with positive Active Office on the SPECIFIC investment from Swansea University and campus. The building supports 40 people industry, SPECIFIC brings together a wide and is capable of generating more energy range of academic and industry partners than it uses. It can also share solar energy to share expertise in ‘functional coatings’, with the Active Classroom. such as photovoltaic materials built into a building’s cladding; energy storage; In September 2018, the Chancellor technology scale-up; manufacture at scale; announced a new £36 million investment business development and commercial to develop clean energy innovation at know-how. Swansea University through a new national Active Building Centre. Led by Swansea University, with Strategic Partners AkzoNobel, NSG Pilkington, Tata Steel and Cardiff University, and involving other business/academic partners, SPECIFIC, now in its second phase, has attracted over £40 million of funding from its original investors and partner organisations. Photography: Mark Mallett SUSTAINABLE ENERGY

Continued from page 28 Birmingham, led by Professor Yulong They have also had a significant Ding. We are also in partnership with influence on government policy. For Faraday Institution is one of three the Chinese Ministry of Science and example, Professor Strbac led on the elements that comprise the Faraday Technology and the National Natural National Infrastructure Commission’s Battery Challenge, the Government’s Science Foundation in a UK-China Grid 2017 Delivering Future-proof Energy £246 million commitment over the next Scale Energy Storage collaboration, Infrastructure report. four years to support the research and launched in 2013. development of industrially-relevant Whole systems and energy demand battery technologies, complete the Bringing together experts from The UK’s energy system is largely battery R&D ecosystem; develop academia and industry in both fragmented, costly and ineffective. manufacturing tools and methods for countries, this collaboration led to We need a radical re-think of how we mass production; and demonstrate the development of the Centre for use energy infrastructure; we also production-rate reliability and quality. Energy Storage at the University of urgently need to understand how it Birmingham, led by Professor Ding, Fuel cells can be enhanced through the digital who oversaw the launch of a pilot- and big data revolutions. A holistic, Over the last few decades, EPSRC- scale UK manufacturing facility at whole-systems approach to efficient supported researchers have been at Birmingham. The centre’s research sustainable energy infrastructure is the forefront of the development of was crucial to the creation of an needed. Essentially, an integrated fuel cell technology now employed in award-winning demonstration power energy system would bring together zero emission vehicles and stationary plant in Xinjiang, China. key sectors, such as power, heat and gas, combined heat and power units. Nuclear fission in a more efficient and intelligent way. In addition to accelerating academic Nuclear fission remains a key element Among initiatives to tackle this research, our investments have led in the UK energy mix, and currently challenge, the newly-formed EPSRC to a host of industrial partnerships provides 20 per cent of the country’s National Centre for Energy Systems and successful spin-out companies, electricity. EPSRC investments in this Integration (CESI) is for the first time at including Ceres Power, from Imperial area include research into planned new a national scale studying the value of a College London, whose low cost nuclear build and pioneering projects whole systems approach to the energy SteelCell® Solid Oxide Fuel Cell focusing on legacy waste clean-up, system. Led by Newcastle University, technology can generate power from disposal and decommissioning. this consortium of five research- conventional fuels like natural gas intensive universities and 34 public and and from sustainable fuels like biogas, A team led by Professor Claire Corkhill industrial sector partners is tackling ethanol or hydrogen, 24 hours a day. In at the University of Sheffield, working challenges to our energy nexus such August 2018, the company entered into with Sellafield Ltd, have found that by as decarbonisation, repurposing the a new partnership with the Welding mixing plutonium-contaminated waste gas network, integrating electric Institute and Nissan to further develop with blast furnace slag and turning it vehicles, deterring cyber-attacks and fuel cell technology for electric vehicle into glass its volume can be reduced by securing energy supply. applications, supported through the 85-95 per cent. The process effectively Faraday Battery Challenge. locks-in the radioactive plutonium, The centre is also encouraging new creating an end product that is safe for ways of thinking. For example, what Meanwhile, spin-out company, ITM long-term storage. if energy distributors were to share Power (see page 59), which has storage and other assets, so that the developed innovative hydrogen fuelcell- Supply infrastructure load is spread across the entire based technologies, is rolling out hydrogen No matter how effective the next energy system, balancing supply with vehicle refuelling stations across the generation of energy technologies, it demand, especially during spikes in UK, among a host of initiatives. will depend on a supply infrastructure energy usage? Cryogenic storage that is fit for purpose, and EPSRC- Such an approach could make energy supported researchers are playing a EPSRC also supports research into more affordable, and tailored to key role in the development of the UK cryogenic energy storage, another customers’ actual requirements, energy network. hugely promising technology that ensuring they receive the energy stores off-peak energy using liquefied Among a raft of achievements, service they need when they need it. air as the storage medium. The system Professors Goran Strbac and Tim Energy demand takes in surplus electricity during Green at Imperial College London off-peak hours and uses this to help have, since 2008, informed the In March 2018, EPSRC, together with produce a cryogen from a gaseous National Grid’s investments in the Economic and Social Research input, such as air. Our funding led to £3 billion worth of network assets Council (ESRC), invested £19.5 million the creation of a dedicated cryogenic such as power lines, underground storage centre at the University of cabling and high-pressure gas pipes. Continued on page 32

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 30 Tackling global energy challenges

Recognising the value of multidisciplinary Under Phase 4, in July 2018 EPSRC collaboration in energy research, for nearly invested £15 million in three new Supergen two decades EPSRC has led Supergen, the hubs investigating Offshore Renewable UK’s flagship initiative in sustainable power Energy, Bioenergy and Energy Networks. generation and supply. Involving academics from 19 universities and 70 partners including 22 from industry, The ambitious multidisciplinary research these hubs will drive the next generation initiative, funded under the UKRI Energy of renewable technologies and distribution Programme, covers a vast green energy systems vital to the UK. landscape, taking in areas such as climate change, fossil fuel extraction rates, emissions Part of Supergen’s remit is to develop future control, and increasing public awareness research and innovation leaders – and of environmental concerns. To tackle these to seek opportunities for innovation. This challenges, Supergen brings together includes numerous collaborations with world-leading academics, industry and Innovate UK’s Energy Catapult network of other stakeholders to develop cutting-edge technology and innovation centres dedicated technologies in areas including bioenergy; to connecting businesses with the UK’s energy networks; energy storage; fuel cells; research and academic communities, and hydrogen and other vectors; marine, wave accelerating commercialisation of research. and tidal; solar technology; and wind power. Supergen also plays a key role in energy- The main goal of the initiative is to contribute focused EPSRC Centres for Doctoral to the UK’s environmental emissions targets Training, and enables individual research through a radical improvement in the groups to create their own pathways to sustainability of the UK’s power generation innovation and impact. and supply. EPSRC has invested over £150 million in this flagship initiative, which includes 10 dedicated hubs tackling major global energy challenges. This has led to the development of new tools and technologies as well as greater collaboration between academia, government, industry and international partners. It has also had a strong influence on government energy policy. The programme is now in its fourth phase, launched in 2017, which focuses on high impact user, industrial and government- inspired problems while also covering adventurous discovery-led investigations.

Biomass energy derived from crops such as wheat could play an important role in the future global energy mix. 31 SUSTAINABLE ENERGY

Continued from page 30 researchers we support. Professor solid fuel for the production of energy Gupta is leading a £1.5 million project in a new research centre, the UK products from biomass. to monitor the energy usage of some Centre for Research on Energy 2,000 homes in India. The findings To maximise the quality of the PhD, Demand (UKCRED), which is will inform a new national residential we concentrate much of our training investigating whole systems energy energy code for high-quality, low- around specialist centres. There are use from a socio-technical perspective energy housing. now 14 EPSRC Centres for Doctoral and creating solutions to enhance Training in areas such as energy systems, business and industry efficiency, Impact on policy low carbon technology, nuclear, improve our homes and accelerate the Taken as a whole, our energy programme renewables and demand reduction. shift to low carbon transport. is uniquely positioned to provide Among numerous programmes co- policymakers with guidance about The centre builds on an earlier funded with industry and national the development of potential energy £30 million EPSRC investment in six organisations, the Industrial Doctorate scenarios and their impact on citizens, multidisciplinary End Use Energy Centre for Offshore Renewable Energy the economy and the environment. Demand Centres, which explored ways (idcore), worked with academic to reduce carbon emissions across For example, the UK Energy Research and industrial partners to train society – from industrial processes, Centre, funded and established by research engineers to accelerate the materials and products to regulation the Research Councils UK Energy deployment of offshore wind, wave and and organisational and individual Programme in 2004, is at the tidal-current technologies. behaviour. forefont of world-class research into Among successful graduates from Partnerships for growth sustainable future energy systems and continues to inform UK policy idcore, which was co-funded by The collaborations we foster and development and research strategy. EPSRC and the Energy Technologies support between industry, academia Institute, Dr Conaill Soraghan today Across a range of sectors, EPSRC- and other stakeholders are at the leads the Operations & Maintenance heart of EPSRC’s mission, and form supported researchers have informed many aspects of UK Government Data Systems team at the Offshore a platform from which we can co- Renewable Energy Catapult. Conaill’s develop long-term cross-sector energy strategy, including the 2013 Nuclear Industrial Strategy, the 2012 career trajectory, which took him from research, attract further funding a maths degree and Masters through and share best practice. You can Bioenergy Strategy, the 2012 Carbon to an engineering PhD and now a role find examples of these partnerships Capture & Storage Roadmap and at the heart of a dynamic innovation- throughout this edition of Pioneer. the Low Carbon Industrial Strategy. More recently, EPSRC, alongside the centred industry, is part of a connected To ensure the national research research community, has contributed UK research and innovation ecosystem priorities for energy in the UK are well to the Government’s pivotal Clean that goes from strength to strength, supported, we have close working Growth Strategy. most recently through the creation of partnerships with organisations Investing in people UK Research and Innovation, which such as the Carbon Trust, the brings together the UK Research Energy Research Partnership, the A hugely important aspect of our Councils, Innovate UK and Research Energy Catapults, the Department work is the development of the energy England to form a new united body. for Business, Energy, Innovation and researchers, policymakers and Skills and the Nuclear Innovation and business leaders of tomorrow. We A brighter future Research Advisory Board. support more than 800 PhD students Investment in the people at all career International reach engaged in energy-related research. stages who will lead tomorrow’s Half of our PhD graduates enter either innovation is already creating new In contributing to the energy agenda, business or the public sector within a industries, jobs and commercial we have forged and continue to build year of graduating. opportunities for the UK. The major international links to address The breadth of the doctoral research global energy challenges, such as with technologies and systems they are is vast, highly innovative, and grounded China on smart grids and cryogenics, developing, the partnerships they in fundamental science. For example, with Japan on nuclear safety and are forging and the brilliance of their Samira Garcia, a PhD student with decommissioning and with India on thinking is vital to the future of the Supergen Bioenergy Hub, is solar energy and fuel cells. our planet. researching the potential of using A new joint initiative, led by Professor coffee stems to provide bioenergy Together with our partners in UKRI, Rajat Gupta, from Oxford Brookes for the coffee sector. Coffee stems, we are providing the platform for University and co-funded by EPSRC, obtained after coffee tree pruning, are their imaginations and innovations to the Indian Government and ESRC, is an abundant and untapped source in flourish as we move with confidence testament to the global impact of the the coffee supply chain, and a suitable towards a brighter decarbonised future.

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 32 Fastnet from above This photograph of the Fastnet lighthouse off the coast of Ireland, taken by James Bassitt from the University of Exeter was among the winning entries in the 2017 EPSRC Science Photo Competition. James is just visible on the concrete helipad, flying the drone from which this shot was taken. Shortly afterwards sea spray caused the drone to fail. James and his team were collecting visual data of the craggy rock and lighthouse, which they are using to build up a picture of the behaviour of lighthouses under severe wave impacts, backed up with wave and structural modelling on dry land. In order for the UK to safely and effectively harness its tidal resources over the long term, a full understanding of environmental forces on offshore structures is vital. SUSTAINABLE ENERGY

Sweet success Daniel Malko, a PhD student in Professor Anthony Kucernak’s group at Imperial College London working on research supported by the EPSRC- led Supergen initiative (see page 31), co-invented a fuel cell capable of generating electrical energy from the Power organic molecules present in waste water, while also cleaning the water. The research led to the formation of an award-winning spin-out company, plants SweetGen Ltd, whose target market includes industrial sites such as breweries or biofuel facilities. Cleaning dissolved organic molecules in global industrial wastewater has a cost of US$90 billion per year. SweetGen could save these industries up to EPSRC-supported scientists and US$12 billion – every year. engineers are at the forefront of research £500 million fuel cell spin-out Intelligent Energy, a company into low-carbon technologies – within a formed to commercialise EPSRC- supported research at Loughborough £1.1 million portfolio focused on securing University, is one of the world’s largest independent fuel cell companies. The the UK’s energy future and tackling global organisation employs over 350 people around the world and is valued at sustainable energy challenges. US$500 million. A core team of EPSRC-funded Gas giants manufacturing and the oil and gas researchers from Loughborough sector to medical diagnostics and University joined the company at its EPSRC-supported scientists at household products. inception in 1993, and continues to Queen’s University Belfast have lead its R&D. launched a spin-out company, Porous Spray on solar cells Liquid Technologies Ltd, to bring Solar cells made using a process Major business partners include to market a new class of porous similar to spray painting have been Suzuki, with whom the company liquid that can dissolve remarkably developed by a collaboration between has formed a joint venture company, large amounts of gas. The research scientists at the University of Sheffield. Peugeot Citroën, Boeing, Airbus and has gone from demonstration to Lotus. These collaborations have led commercialisation in less than The research is led by Professor to the development of the world’s three years. David Lidzey (see page 15). He says: first purpose-built fuel cell-powered “Spray coating is currently used to motorbike; fuel cell-powered aircraft Porous liquids contain microscopic apply paint to cars and in graphic and zero emission road vehicles, cavities, each pore the size of a single printing. We have shown that it can including the hydrogen taxis used to molecule. Containing up to 10,000 also be used to make solar cells shuttle VIPs during the 2012 Olympics. times the number of cavities found using specially designed plastic in conventional liquids, the liquids semiconductors. The company’s growing international allow fast uptake and release of large portfolio includes a £0.5 billion deal “Maybe in the future surfaces on to supply India with safe, sustainable volumes of gas. buildings and even car roofs will power to 27,000 telecoms towers The technology could have applications routinely generate electricity with across the country. Closer to home, in a wide range of industries, from these materials.” the Metropolitan Police are currently

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 34 trialling a fleet of fast-charging zero- The technique relies on what the The team have created an advanced carbon Suzuki motorbikes, powered researchers describe as the natural nickel-based catalyst strengthened by Intelligent Energy fuel cells, on the fingerprint of carbon dioxide. For with tin and ceria, which they used streets of London. example, carbon dioxide produced to transform the two gases into a by burning gas in a power station ‘synthesis gas’ that can be used to Plastic sponge sucks-up is different from that produced by produce fuels and a range of valuable carbon dioxide burning coal, biomass or oil and these chemicals. They are now seeking Researchers at the University of would be different from the carbon partners from industry to help turn Liverpool, led by Professor Andrew dioxide produced naturally by plants the technology into “a world-changing Cooper, have developed a sponge-like or animals. process”. plastic that sops up the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Forbes flyers Nuclear fix Two students from the EPSRC-funded The material – a relative of the plastics An EPSRC-funded academic/industry Nano Doctoral Training Centre at used in food containers – might ease Prosperity Partnership, led by the University of Cambridge have our transition away from fossil fuels researchers at Strathclyde University, been named on influential business and toward new energy sources, with engineering firm Babcock, is magazine Forbes’ 30 under 30 list. such as hydrogen. It could also be developing the technologies and expertise needed to extend the life of integrated into power plant emission Jean de la Verpilliere and Alex nuclear power plants and increase stacks in the future. Groombridge co-founded Echion their generating capacity by improving Technologies Ltd with PhD supervisors, Professor Cooper says: “The key their health. point is that this polymer is stable, it’s Dr Adam Boies and Dr Michaël De cheap, and it adsorbs carbon dioxide Volder, to bring technology developed In addition to advanced inspection extremely well. It’s geared toward through Jean’s doctorate to market. techniques, the team are devising biotechnology solutions for function in a real-world environment.” The award-winning company’s new infrastructure repair, operational hybrid nanomaterial could herald the The research was funded by EPSRC intelligence and data science, as next generation of fast-recharging and E.ON Energy. well as new products and processes high-performance automotive for managing nuclear facilities and Myth-busting bioenergy batteries, primarily targeted at electric extending their lifetime. blockbuster buses and light duty fleet vehicles. EPSRC-supported researchers Corking the bottle The company has secured an EPSRC have devised a graphic novel which Impact Acceleration Follow-on-Fund Most companies’ energy management addresses the big questions around award to take the commercialisation systems are designed for energy bioenergy and climate change. of its materials research to the managers, but there are few energy- Bioenergy: A Graphic Introduction, a next level. feedback systems designed to engage unique collaboration between artists staff, who are generally oblivious of and researchers from the EPSRC- Storage to Grid the amount of energy the building supported Supergen Bioenergy EPSRC-supported researchers from they work in consumes. e-Genie, an Hub (see page 31), is a handy and Newcastle University have joined energy monitoring tool for employees, accessible guide for the bioenergy forces with energy storage technology was developed by researchers at The industry and policymakers, but is also company, RedT, in a three-year University of Nottingham to redress accessible for schoolchildren. Knowledge Transfer Partnership to the balance. develop a hybrid commercial energy Created with UCL and the Centre for Using striking images which imagine storage system based around the Sustainable Energy, the project was alternative futures, the novel explains company’s vanadium flow technology. led by Dr Alexa Spence. She says some of the technology involved and The system will be capable of offering that building energy awareness into how it might be put into practice. the full range of storage applications to employees’ everyday work patterns the electricity grid. The partnership is Fingerprinting carbon dioxide has “led to huge savings” through funded by Innovate UK and the Scottish EPSRC-supported researchers at simple behavioural changes such Funding Council. the University of Edinburgh have as discussing efficiency measures successfully trialled an inexpensive Recycling greenhouse gases with colleagues. test which can distinguish between EPSRC-supported researchers at the Field trials at Nottinghamshire County natural and industrial carbon dioxide. University of Surrey have developed a Council offices resulted in a 37 per The technology can be used to prevent patented and cost-effective catalyst cent decrease in energy use after just leaks from greenhouse gas storage to recycle two of the main causes six weeks. The project was supported sites reaching the atmosphere and behind climate change: carbon dioxide by the RCUK Digital Economy Theme, contributing to climate change. and methane. led by EPSRC.

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 35 SUSTAINABLE ENERGY

Double the benefit This photograph of a farmer holding automated micro-irrigation system storage to both curtail local solar the fruit from two okra crops in the devised by researchers from the energy generation and reduce power village of Auroville in South India EPSRC-supported SCORRES project, supply disruption. reflects the achievements of an led by Professor Eddie Owens of The photograph, taken by Vimal extraordinary precision irrigation trial Heriot-Watt’s Energy Academy. Bhojraj, from the project’s Indian led by researchers from Heriot-Watt Thanks to the new system, not only business partner, Auroville University. has crop yield doubled in some Consulting, was a runner up in The fruit on the right was grown cases, water use has been reduced the 2017 EPSRC Science Photo using the farm’s conventional manual by up to 80 per cent. Among a range Competition. Turn to page 63 to see irrigation system. The fruit on the of benefits, the system enables the the winning image. left was grown using a cloud-based optimal use of electrical energy SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS The plastics paradox

Many kinds of plastic, particularly packaging, are seen as worthless after one use – and thrown away. Professor Mark Miodownik argues that a circular economy of plastic would retain its environmental and economic benefits while preventing the pollution of the oceans, poisoning of the food chain and harmful greenhouse gas emissions

Celluloid, the Tough, flexible and low in cost, celluloid and it’s at this point our relationship world’s first went on to revolutionise the movie and with them changed. commercial photography industries. It also helped No longer did we see plastics as plastic and 19th pave the way for the next generation of marvellous and miraculous materials, century wonder synthetic plastics, such as Bakelite. we saw them as cheap and disposable. material, was One hundred and fifty years later, invented to help Throw-away culture discarded plastic is a huge threat to address a looming Plastics became a by-word for a environmental the environment. This has happened throw-away culture. Only there was crisis. But in one of history’s ironic because the value of the material has no ‘away’. Because of their very stable twists, its successors are at the heart been lost on us. chemical structure, plastics did not of a potential global catastrophe. Plastics have changed the way we live, biodegrade or dissolve in water. These, Celluloid was developed by two in almost every way, from footwear to of course, were the very properties that brothers, John and Isaiah Hyatt, in furniture, telephones to tennis rackets, made them so valuable as packaging response to a challenge by US billiard MRI machines to medical tubing. materials, and made them so effective ball makers Phelan and Collender, As Susan Freinkel, author of Plastic: in reducing food waste. which offered $10,000 in gold to anyone A Toxic Love Affair, has observed: “In But once these materials had been used who could come up with a substitute the 1940s, people told pollsters they they should not just have been discarded, for ivory. It was the late 19th century, considered ‘cellophane’ the third most because they stay in the environment when billiard balls and many other beautiful word in the English language for a hundred years or more, and since items such as buttons were made from after ‘mother’ and ‘memory’.” the sea is pretty much downhill from smooth and durable ivory, and the everywhere, they end up in the ocean. company was concerned about the But in the latter decades of the 20th dwindling global supplies of ivory tusk century, plastics started to be used in caused by unfettered elephant slaughter. single-use items such as packaging, Continued on page 40

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 38

SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS

If this pattern continues, the Ellen Circular economy country. A BBC survey conducted in MacArthur Foundation, a champion of September 2018 found that some local Supermarkets and other retailers the circular economy, estimates there councils collect many different types of have made it their task to reduce will be more plastics in the ocean than plastic waste, and others none at all. food waste, increase product quality, fish by 2050. Councils’ recycling commitments and and reduce food prices. But since the processes also vary widely. In Reading, The problems caused by plastic costs of recycling packaging are not you can throw a yoghurt pot into pollution are numerous, and pressing included in their pricing they generally recycling. In Manchester you can’t. – from poisoning marine life and don’t prioritise making their packaging disrupting the food chain to emitting recyclable. Nor have they prioritised Something needs to be done about greenhouse gases when burned. But using more expensive recycled plastics this, as it will cost money up front to solutions to these challenges come in their packaging. This means that bring all recycling provided by different with many strings attached. the recyclers can’t make much local authorities in line and make them money selling recycled plastics to the all into effective and profitable re- Analysis shows that banning plastic manufacturers because there is not manufacturers of plastic. packaging will be counterproductive much demand for them. Hence the because it will radically increase food Once cash can be made from recycling local authorities don’t get a big income waste and so increase carbon dioxide this now valuable packing material, from it and so don’t invest in recycling emissions and global warming. the money should flow throughout the equipment. This results in a limited system as part of a mutually-beneficial Biodegradable plastics are an supply of recycled plastics which circular economy. interesting solution, but their retailers mostly don’t want to use biodegradability depends very much anyway. It’s a Catch 22 situation. But the success of this solution hinges on the environment where the on our behaviour. People are at the A circular economy would change plastic ends up. In well-controlled heart of the economy. All plastic all this – one which maximises the environments the plastic will be packaging goes through our value and use of plastics by reusing completely consumed by micro- hands; we determine whether and recycling them for as long as organisms. But in other places, such companies who use un- possible. If the supermarkets, retailers as the oceans, the temperature is recyclable plastic packaging get and manufacturers sign up to using generally too low for this to happen our money or not; and we decide recycled plastic, this would create a and so the plastics remain in the to recycle our plastics or not. high demand as well as the economic environment for long periods of time. conditions for investment in recycling. With the UK Plastic Pact now The solution favoured by government, In theory. in place, it is up to all of us to manufacturers, retailers and make it work. There’s a lot at UK Plastic Pact environmental groups is to recycle stake. The health plastics. This enables society to keep To meet this challenge, a vast range of the whole the advantages of using plastics whilst of companies – those responsible for Earth, in fact. mitigating their environmental impact. 80 per cent of the plastic packaging So why haven’t we done it and why is in the UK – have pledged to the UK the UK’s recycling rate down at around Plastic Pact, which aims to make all 15 per cent? plastic packing 100 per cent recyclable, reusable or compostable, and to The answer lies not so much in the eliminate all unnecessary single-use technology for recycling, much of which packaging, by 2025. That’s in seven already exists. No, the problem is more years’ time, not long in terms of of system design and economics. infrastructure investment, so it’s a big challenge.

About Mark Miodownik MBE Everyone wants the Plastic Pact to be successful, but already it’s Mark is a materials engineer, clear that the local authorities Professor of Materials and Society who do the recycling will play a at UCL where he teaches and runs a key role. research group, and EPSRC Senior Media Fellow. Plastic Fantastic, his But success must be acclaimed Radio 4 series looking at UK-wide, and provision our love affair with plastic, is available for the recycling of to listen to on the BBC iPlayer. different plastics is www.markmiodownik.net hugely inconsistent across the whole

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 40 Plastics Research and Innovation Fund UKRI is delivering a £20 million Plastics complementary research, innovation Research and Innovation Fund (PRIF) and networking, the fund aims to which brings together Britain’s best enhance leadership, coordinate scientists and innovators to help move knowledge, catalyse new ideas and the country towards more circular devise rapid solutions for research economic and sustainable approaches and innovation across the UK. to plastics. Professor Duncan Wingham, UKRI’s The fund, which is managed by EPSRC Lead for the fund and Executive Chair and Innovate UK, working with the Waste of the Natural Environment Research and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), Council, says: “The fund will bring the will help to create new approaches and strength of UKRI’s entire portfolio, from alternatives needed to rapidly reverse the environment to technology to business impact that our use of plastics is having to behaviour and regulation, to bear on the planet. By investing in on this pressing and very widely recognised problem. In addition, it will draw on the expertise of partners who have been working in the waste reduction and recycling arena for some time.”

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 41 SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS Plastics with potential

EPSRC-supported researchers are leading the development of new technologies and processes to reuse, recycle, recover and reinvent plastic products.

Turning CO2 into plastic The award-winning technology was Plastics from paper developed by Dr Carlos Ludlow- EPSRC-supported researchers at EPSRC is co-investing in a £3 million Palafox, who helped to develop the Swansea University have found a way project to develop plastics made from foundations of the Enval process to convert waste carbon dioxide into waste from the paper industry. while studying for a PhD under the a molecule that forms the basis of supervision of Professor Howard The research is led by Southampton making plastics. Chase. The process offers a financially company, Biome Bioplastics, in The team, led by Dr Enrico Andreoli, attractive recycling route for plastic/ partnership with the universities of aluminium laminate packaging that converted waste CO2 into a molecule Warwick, Liverpool and Leeds, as well called ethylene, one of the most has, to date, been unrecyclable. as the Centre for Process Innovation in widely used molecules in the chemical The process involves using a large Teesside. industry and the starting material microwave oven heated to 600 degrees. in the manufacture of detergents, The team hope to produce chemicals The laminated material is broken down from plant and agricultural waste that synthetic lubricants, and the vast then fed into the microwave where majority of plastics essential to can be made into plastics, as well as the heat breaks the plastic into a gas, fragrances and personal care products. modern society. freeing the aluminium which remains Currently, ethylene is produced at a undamaged. Some of the gas produced The research is based on a very high temperature, using steam. is used to power the plant, the rest breakthrough by Biome Bioplastics The team have developed a process is cooled to create oil which is then and the University of Warwick’s that uses CO , water and green sold on. Centre for Industrial Biotechnology 2 and Biorefining, who successfully electricity to generate a sustainable In collaboration with stakeholders demonstrated that bacterial ethylene at room temperature. including multinationals Nestlé and Kraft, the company opened the world’s degradation can be used to produce The global potential of using ethylene organic chemicals from lignin (a derived from CO is huge, utilising half first commercial scale plant utilising 2 Enval’s patented process. complex organic polymer deposited in a billion tonnes of the carbon emitted the cell walls of many plants) that are each year and offsetting global carbon Enval estimates 160,000 tons of plastic suitable for bioplastic manufacture. emissions. aluminium laminate packaging is used in the UK each year. Dr Ludlow-Palafox, The team proved that soil bacteria can This research was supported by EPSRC, be used to manipulate the breakdown the Welsh Government, the European Enval’s CEO, says: “Our recycling process will prevent thousands of tons pathway and that the process can Synchrotron Radiation Facility, and the be controlled and improved using US Department of Energy. of material from going to landfill. synthetic biology. “More importantly, we can recover In the can the aluminium that is embedded in Co-funders include Innovate UK and Enval, a company set up to commercialise the plastic aluminium laminates. the Biotechnology and Biological EPSRC-funded research at the University Aluminium is one of the most energy Sciences Research Council. of Cambridge, has pioneered and intensive products to produce... so if Shelf life saver patented revolutionary technologies for you already have the aluminium, the the recycling of laminated plastic and last thing you want is to send it back to Each year, an estimated 18 million aluminium packaging. landfill.” tonnes of edible food is sent to landfill

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 42 in the UK – usually by consumers between food-grade polymers from responding to ‘use by’ dates on non-food-grade. In addition, it can the products’ packaging. Insignia enable companies to recover their Technologies, a company set up to own packaging for reuse, providing commercialise EPSRC-supported opportunities for brand owners to research led by Professor Andrew Mills establish a circular economy for at the University of Strathclyde, could their products. help to dramatically reduce this figure, The new technology could also help as well as help the food industry to boost recycling plant yields, and reduce its waste. enhance UK plastics recycling as a The company has developed a range whole. The concept could also be of smart packaging based around applied to the different plastics used intelligent plastics and inks which in cars and electrical and electronic change colour on detection of changes equipment. in CO and temperature, and thus 2 Plastic fuels cars indicate food freshness. Discarded plastic could be used to The labels can be customised for any fuel cars in the future thanks to a food product and the company has ground-breaking process developed by developed a range of products for the scientists from Swansea University. retail, distribution and consumer sectors. By adding light-absorbing materials Liquid asset to unwanted plastic they have been EPSRC-supported research led by able to transform the plastic into Professor Wayne Hayes, from the hydrogen which in turn could be used University of Reading, has led to to run cars. the development of a new kind of The process, which is at a very plastic that can repair itself at body early stage of development, could temperature. be cheaper than recycling because The new material, a supramolecular any kind of plastic can be used and, polyurethane, ‘flows’ like a liquid when crucially, the plastic does not need to cut or scraped, filling in the damage in be cleaned first. It can also degrade all a couple of hours before its molecules sorts of waste. bind together to become solid again. Bottling it The new material is remarkable Blow Moulding Technologies, a because it is safe to humans and company set up to commercialise works at temperatures as low as research led by Dr Gary Menary at 37 degrees Celsius, making it ideal for Queen’s University Belfast (QUB), has use in healthcare, opening the door to developed specialist instrumentation new self-healing wound dressings. that is helping soft drink and water Other potential applications include industries optimise the design of self-healing vehicle paint, or as a bottles made from Polyethylene coating for mobile phones. terephthalate (PET). Almost 500 billion PET plastic bottles were sold in 2016. Invisible barcodes The technology is based on Researchers at Brunel University have mathematical models developed joined forces with plastics recycling through long-term research at QUB consultancy, Nextek, to develop and supported by EPSRC and the soft luminescent materials which can be drinks industry. It has been adopted applied invisibly to labels on plastic by major corporate partners including packaging to aid the sorting process Evian and Proctor & Gamble. for recycling facilities. Dr Menary says: “There’s a huge drive The technology can identify a wide range in the industry to try to make things of plastics, including bioplastics, chemical lighter. Evian make six million bottles packaging and automotive plastics. a day. If they can save even one gram Among numerous potential benefits, of material it will mean a financial for the first time it enables high- saving of £2 million a year, plus the speed sorting machines to identify saving in energy. There are huge black plastics, as well as distinguish volumes involved.”

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 43 SUSTAINABLE MANUFACTURING Hot metal A ‘greener’ aluminium forming process developed with EPSRC support is revolutionising the £160 billion global car manufacturing sector

The world-first technology, called Hot sheet to be formed at speed into Form Quench™ (HFQ®), dramatically uniquely-shaped panel components reduces costs and emissions – both in – employed to stunning effect in the the production process and on the road. new Aston Martin DB11 (pictured) – while retaining the full strength of the HFQ® is the product of a series material. This was hitherto impossible. of EPSRC-funded projects led by Professor Jianguo Lin dating back Thanks to HFQ®, Aston Martin can to 2003. It has been developed make parts that are up to 20 per cent with support from Innovate UK by lighter than if made using corresponding Impression Technologies Ltd, a cold-formed components. Orders for company formed to commercialise the DB11 have increased significantly advanced metallurgical research compared to the previous model. at Imperial College London and the Impression Technologies is now University of Birmingham. developing partnerships to use HFQ Professor Lin’s research focused on to build mainstream cars and aircraft, resolving a major problem for the car and Professor Lin says the process industry – how to reduce weight. A can also be used in the manufacture of lighter vehicle increases fuel economy commercial vehicles such as trucks. and reduces exhaust emissions.The There’s more good news. Impression solution: replace steel with aluminium. Technologies is leading a new This cuts weight by up to 50 per cent, academic/industry consortium to saves 25 per cent in fuel, and reduces develop HFQ® technology to mass- CO emissions by over 30 per cent. 2 produce complex low-emission vehicles. By combining stamping and heat- The EPSRC-supported Brunel Centre treating in a single operation, HFQ® for Advanced Solidification Technology enables heated aluminium alloy at Brunel University is a key member of this project, which is applying research by Professor Zhongyun Fan into improving the recyclability of metals. Building on revolutionary advances in liquid metal engineering and casting technologies that have enabled car makers to manufacture components up to 40 per cent lighter than previously possible, Professor Fan’s team’s long-term aim is to make high quality parts and materials from metal that has been used at least once. Who knows, one day Bond may find himself being stirred but not shaken in a recycled Aston Martin. 45 SUSTAINABLE MANUFACTURING Making things better From ultra-efficient jet engines to smarter skid-lids for cyclists, EPSRC-supported researchers are at the forefront of low-carbon manufacturing research and innovation

Die cast partnership enables the systems to learn until Hi-tech superalloys for greener jet they are ready to be promoted to engines Die casting is one of the most widely ‘virtual experts’, able to make sound used production processes for judgements, matching and even The jet engine is a tough engineering aluminium automotive components, outperforming human experts working environment. The temperature in and is employed to make items such without such support. the hot gas stream can exceed 1,800 as engine blocks and gearbox casings. degrees centigrade, and the forces While this project looks specifically on the rotating turbine blades are Working with Ryobi Ltd, the world’s at gas turbine faults, it is hoped the equivalent to hanging 15 hatchback leading die casting manufacturer, technology could be applied to all cars from each one. EPSRC-supported researchers at fault diagnostic systems, including in Queen’s University Belfast developed power plants, military equipment, the EPSRC-supported researchers at the a modified casting process that led health service and natural disaster Rolls-Royce University Technology to massive savings for the company, monitoring. The project is led by Centre (UTC) at the University of which implemented the new method Dr Yu Zhang through an EPSRC New Cambridge are developing new metal across its UK facility. Investigator Award. alloys able to withstand the extreme conditions inside a new generation of The technology led to Ryobi making Next-gen EVs gas turbine engines designed to burn annual savings of around £1 million, hotter than ever before – helping to EPSRC-supported researchers from as well as saving 742 GigaJoules of make the engines greener and more Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) energy – enough to power 50 domestic efficient. . homes. It also reduced aluminium are working with experts from Jaguar consumption by up to 60 tonnes Land Rover to develop the next generation of longer-range compared to previous figures. electric vehicles (EVs). In addition to cost, material and By looking at the entire environmental savings, the project system – from a car’s batteries enabled less frequent die repair and a to its power electronics longer overall die life. and through to its torque AI software finds faults transmission – WMG and Jaguar Land Rover are EPSRC-supported researchers combining underpinning at the University of Lincoln, in science with innovative partnership with Siemens Industrial technology to Turbomachinery, are developing understand where intelligent software that can efficiencies can be automatically detect system faults in made, identify areas industrial machines. for improvement and build a platform for Using data provided by Siemens, the future development. systems begin as ‘virtual apprentices’, trained by human engineers through The research is led by coaching, examining and refining Professor Barbara Shollock processes to diagnose faults in and funded through an EPSRC gas turbines. Artificial intelligence Prosperity Partnership.

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 46 Circle line example, bacteria could be paired with Although much in demand in the ceramics, and glass with electronics, aerospace and defence sectors for Dr Fiona Charnley, Senior Lecturer enabling them to regenerate – or its light weight and resistance to in Circular Innovation at Cranfield become very difficult to break. corrosion, titanium is three times the University, is leading EPSRC- cost of steel, and is in limited supply. funded research into how data can The EPSRC-funded consortium This shortage isn’t helped by the fact be captured from products so that includes experts from the University that 90 per cent of the forged titanium they can last longer through reuse, of Bristol, Sheffield Hallam University, alloy used in industry is machined refurbishment and remanufacture. The University of Manchester, away to waste material. Cranfield University, the University of The project team are developing new Aberdeen, Lancaster University and Now, thanks to research led by Dr Nick knowledge, tools and methodologies Northumbria University. Weston while a PhD student at the which will allow organisations to EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in capture data throughout the lifecycle Chatty factories Advanced Metallics at the University of their products and make informed EPSRC-supported researchers at of Sheffield, what was once a 40-step decisions on the most appropriate Cardiff University are exploring how process has been reduced to just circular economy strategy. the design of everyday products such two steps. Project partners include the University as bikes and cars can be immediately Dr Weston’s research was supported of Sheffield, Airbus Group, the Ellen adapted if they are found to have by PhD student, Lyndsey Benson, MacArthur Foundation, Manufacturing design flaws. Dr Martin Jackson, and Professor Technology Centre, RiverSimple, Cisco The aim of the ‘Chatty Factories’ Brad Wynne, an EPSRC Fellow at the Systems and Rolls-Royce plc. project is to harness sophisticated High Value Manufacturing Catapult Manufacturing immortality artificial intelligence and sensor in Sheffield. technologies to create a system A consortium of seven institutions whereby products embedded with The Sheffield team’s underpinning led by the University of Bristol is customer data ‘talk’ to the factory research led to the development of the undertaking ground-breaking research floor where they are produced. so-called Fast-Forge process, which into manufacturing new materials transforms powdered titanium into a which have the ability to self-heal For example, if a customer drops their shaped component. or regenerate. cycle helmet and it develops a hairline fracture, the helmet would talk to The process is being scaled up through The initial focus of the three-year the factory, which would notify the an Innovate UK-funded collaboration Manufacturing Immortality project, led cyclist they need a new one straight with UK industry partners, Metalysis, by Dr Paul Race, from the University away. The company uses the new data Dstl, the Advanced Forming Research of Bristol, is on creating materials for to design and build a new helmet Centre and Safran Landing Systems. use in inaccessible places such as that is less likely to crack. The same Model employee the deep ocean or radioactive sites. principles would apply to electric In the future, however, the research vehicles and consumer devices, right Research conducted by Sarah Hughes, could lead to consumer goods such as up to aircraft and buildings. an EPSRC-supported doctoral student, mobile phones with self-healing has helped Jaguar Land Rover save screens. Another key focus of the project, around £500,000 a year.Sarah spent led by Dr Peter Burnap, is to tackle most of her four-year Engineering The aim is to cybersecurity issues surrounding the combine bio and Doctorate (EngD) based at the car Internet of Things, to ensure that manufacturer’s Gaydon plant in non-biological customer data collected by products is Warwickshire. composites. safe from leaks or hacks, and is used For in a transparent way by manufacturers. Sarah took the results of surveys carried out by market researchers The Cardiff team are working with and used statistical techniques, scientists from the University simulation and dynamic modelling to of Edinburgh, The University of turn customer requirements into an Nottingham, Lancaster University and engineering specification. Bath Spa University. The company was then able to advise FAST track for Fast-Forge suppliers – of gearboxes for instance – EPSRC-funded engineers what was needed depending on factors at the University of Sheffield such as mileage and environment. This have revolutionised the led to a reduction in the number of production of titanium for use in prototype models needed, and hence aerospace grade titanium alloys – to savings in the region of £500,000 potentially halving the cost. a year.

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 47 SUSTAINABLE MANUFACTURING

Building blocks These 3D-printed aluminium and it directly correlates to the fuel without compromising strength or structures, created by researchers efficiency and environmental impact performance. at the EPSRC Centre for Additiive of travel. Manufacturing at The University The photograph, taken by Sam It is only possible to make such of Nottingham, have exceptional Catchpole-Smith, a PhD student at the complex aluminium structures via strength and stiffness, allowing Centre for Additive Manufacturing, was selective laser melting, a type of engineers to significantly reduce the one of the prize-winning images in the additive manufacturing (AM) which weight of components. 2017 EPSRC Science Photo Competition. uses 3D-printing techniques. By Weight is a critical factor in the utilising AM’s unique capabilities, Turn to page 63 for details of the aerospace and automotive industries component weight can be minimised 2018 competition. SUSTAINABLE FOOD Chicken coup Around 80 billion litres of the fuel bioethanol are produced annually from fermented cereals. The yeast used in the process is discarded. Dr Emily Burton and her team found a way to extract liquid protein from the yeast that’s now more valuable than the bioethanol itself

Bioethanol is a form of renewable energy that can be produced from agricultural feedstocks, such as hemp, corn and wheat, and is widely used in North and South America as a gasoline additive. It’s big business. But with so much of this raw material destined for landfill, it’s not as eco-friendly as it might seem, especially when you factor in the amount of land needed to grow the crops. Dr Emily Burton, from Nottingham Trent University, secured funding from EPSRC and AB Agri, the agricultural division of Associated British Foods, to help her find a way to retrieve proteins from what would otherwise have been discarded as cereal ‘waste’. The breakthrough came when Dawn Scholey, a PhD student at

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 50 Nottingham recruited by Dr Burton, the Technology Strategy Board (now valuable component, more so than came up with a way to separate the Innovate UK) subsequently enabled the bioethanol. The project is also protein from the waste yeast and Dr Williams to demonstrate that the testament to the value of academic/ showed that it contained nutrients protein could be fed to fish such as industry partnerships, and initiatives that are easily digestible by chickens. farmed salmon. such as Industrial CASE, which This patented process could provide a In parallel with the EPSRC funding, the provides funding for PhD studentships cost-competitive alternative to soya- Nottingham researchers secured an where businesses take the lead in based protein and other feeds given to Industrial CASE studentship from the arranging projects with an academic chickens bred for meat production. Biotechnology and Biological Sciences partner of their choice. The process has already been taken Research Council (BBSRC) to enable Pete Williams says: “We couldn’t up by industry in the US, which is PhD student, Harriet Lea, to work with have got this development started using it to produce high quality protein animal health company Alltech UK3 on without the EPSRC Industrial CASE for poultry feed alongside bioethanol the development of a prebiotic chicken studentship, which allowed us to production. food supplement. establish the proof of concept.” If adopted worldwide, the process The combined support of BBSRC and Dr Burton says: “I’ve always had could lead to global production of three EPSRC not only helped Emily Burton to million tonnes of high-grade protein establish a new poultry research unit a close relationship with industry. chicken from discarded bioethanol with researchers at Nottingham Trent This allows me and my team to by-products. University, it provided a springboard really understand the problems and challenges companies face, so we try The research project was borne out of for recruitment and training of to direct research projects to focus on the vision of biofuels pioneer Dr Pete researchers to meet a critical poultry problem solving. Williams of AB Agri, which, with industry skills need. Dr Dawn Scholey EPSRC, jointly funded Dawn Scholey is now a full-time member of the team. “Dawn’s studentship allowed us to via an Industrial CASE studentship The research project has been so build a small, simple poultry research awarded to Dr Burton. successful that the liquid protein facility. It got us going, and now we A Knowledge Transfer Partnership with extracted during the process have a huge programme that was built Plymouth University and a grant from essentially becomes the most out of that.”

Meanwhile in Leicester… Pankaj Pancholi, managing director of Just Egg Ltd, which gets through 1.5 million eggs a week for its range of mayonnaise products and hard boiled eggs, was looking for an ecologically sound way to discard the company’s egg shells rather than send over 900 tonnes of them every year to landfill, at a cost of £30,000. He took his problem to Professor Andy Abbott at the University of Leicester. Building on his long-term EPSRC-funded research into bioplastics derived from food industry waste, Professor Abbott and his team designed and developed a process to recycle the egg shells and also find a use for the membrane attached to the shell. The eggshells are chopped up, washed and then treated with a water-based solution to remove any remaining waste egg. Then, further blades cut the shell into a fine powder, which is dried for use as a filler to ‘bulk up’ different grades of plastic. The Leicester team are also exploring potential uses for the membrane, such as in wound dressings. Professor Abbott says: “With 12.2 billion eggs consumed in the UK in 2015, recycling eggshells presents a huge business opportunity. Plastics cost around £2,000 a tonne, so using 30 to 40 per cent of recycled eggshell as a filler could save manufacturers a fortune.” Mr Pancholi says: “Naturally we’re delighted by the cost savings. The icing on the cake would be if the egg shells could ultimately be recycled for use in the plastic packaging that we use for egg products.”

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 51 SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION Running repairs

Self-healing concrete has the potential to transform the construction industry – and has already been successfully trialled in the field by EPSRC-supported researchers

Every year the UK budgets around facilitate the scaling-up, marketing The project, known as Resilient £1 billion to repair damage to and and commercialisation of resilient Materials 4 Life (RM4L), builds on the maintain UK infrastructure such as materials for the construction industry.” successes of an earlier EPSRC-funded tunnels, bridges and roads, many of project which culminated in the Inspired by natural processes, which are made from concrete. An UK’s first-ever field trials when the the multidisciplinary team are EPSRC-supported academic/industry technology was successfully deployed embedding self-healing materials and consortium is developing smart, self- in a series of retaining walls being technologies into the concrete when healing construction materials with constructed for the A465 Heads of the it is initially set. This built-in immune an inbuilt ‘immune system’ that could Valleys road in South Wales. Costain system can automatically sense when help to dramatically reduce this bill. has won several prestigious industry damage occurs and is able to carry out awards for its work on the project. The consortium draws on the skills of repairs autonomously without the need research teams from four universities, for human intervention. Among key objectives RM4L has Cardiff, Cambridge, Bath and Bradford. a strong focus on developing the The team are also developing They are collectively stretching the research leaders of tomorrow, and shape-shifting materials, known boundaries of materials science, includes the involvement of dedicated as shape-memory polymers. When synthetic biology and construction institutes such as the EPSRC Centre these materials are activated they for Doctoral Training in Future technologies, and are bringing this can transform into a different shape Infrastructure and Built Environment, fundamental research to application that the material has ‘memorised’, at the University of Cambridge, of with industry partners, including enabling them to restrain and close which Costain is a major project partner. Highways England, the Welsh cracks as they form, maintaining Government, Thames Tideway, HS2 Ltd Knowledge transfer is also high on structural integrity. and lead industry partner Costain. the agenda. Costain’s Oliver Teall, a The team are also harnessing key member of the South Wales pilot, Professor Bob Lark, from Cardiff the unique properties of bacillus studied for an EPSRC-supported University, who is principal investigator pseudofirmus, a type of bacteria Engineering Doctorate (EngD), on the project, says: “Although which, if supplied with appropriate sponsored by Costain, in self-healing concrete is the world’s most used nutrients, produce calcium carbonate concrete at Cardiff University. building material, it is prone to that can heal cracks in the concrete cracking. If the cracks get too big Dr Teall, who is now an Innovation if it becomes damaged. The bacteria they can lead to corrosion of the steel and Research Manager with Costain, and the nutrients or traditional reinforcement, which jeopardises the says: “One of the main drivers for healing agents are embedded into tiny structure’s integrity. taking the EngD was that I could microcapsules. Should a crack occur, remain an employee of Costain, “Engineers often use a larger the capsules release their cargoes and thereby maintaining the industrial link than necessary amount of steel the cracks are filled by the products of and ensuring I had a job to return to reinforcement to control cracking, the healing mechanism. following the research.” even though the extra steel has no Another technique involves pumping Costain Group Innovation and Knowledge structural use and adds to the cost. organic and inorganic mineral-based Manager, Tim Embley, says: “Our “The overarching goal of the healing agents into concrete structures business thrives on innovation, whether project is to extend the life of through a network of tiny artificial it’s harnessed on site or through concrete infrastructure, optimise its tunnels within the concrete structure, academic, technical and theoretical performance and reduce disruption in the same way that drugs are injected work. Postgraduate research is caused by maintenance activities. into our vascular systems, to repair ultimately the best place from which to With industrial partners, we aim to any damage that occurs. accelerate innovation to market.” 53 SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION Smarter structures From insulation materials inspired by dragonfly wings to using autonomous drones to repair potholes, EPSRC-supported researchers are thinking laterally in their quest to develop the next generation of sustainable construction technologies

Winged wonders Growing strains Power plants An international research team led by EPSRC-supported researchers from Professor Christopher Howe and scientists at Newcastle University have Newcastle University are investigating Dr Paolo Bombelli, from the University of Cambridge, have combined ‘green created a new form of highly efficient, the possibility of using engineered bacterial cells as a building material wall’ technology and semi-transparent low-cost insulation based on the wings – integrating civil engineering with the solar panels to generate a 24-7 of a dragonfly. emerging field of synthetic biology. electrical current from a renewable The material, known as an aerogel, is source of energy. They suggest that by saturating soil ultralight. A piece the size of a family with billions of engineered bacteria The team’s prototype ‘green bus car weighs less than a kilogram. cells, and then applying force to the shelter’, built in collaboration with Starting out as a wet silica gel, the ground, the bacteria would increase eco-companies, could eventually material is carefully dried to create a soil resistance by synthesising a generate enough electricity to strong, porous material. Until now, this new biological material to bind the light itself. soil grains together, resulting in the process has been lengthy, difficult and The building’s thin-film solar panels building blocks for a new structure. costly, and aerogels have been used turn light into electricity. Plants grow in only highly specialist tasks, such as The team, led by Professor Martyn behind the solar glass, ‘sharing the the collection of stardust in space. Dade-Robertson, are building a proof light’ by utilising the red spectrum The team have developed a low cost of concept to show how we might radiation needed for photosynthesis, way to dry the aerogel by mimicking design a manufacturing process while avoiding the scorching effect the way in which the dragonflies dry where the material itself acts as of UV light. The plants also generate their wings. Instead of drying the silica manufacturer and designer, modelling electrical currents as a consequence of photosynthesis and metabolic under high temperature and pressure, and responding to its environment. activity by day and by night. they use bicarbonate of soda to ‘blow’ Leveraging lending out the water molecules, trapping Supported by an EPSRC Impact LENDERS, a report published by a carbon dioxide gas in the pores. Acceleration Account, the project’s consortium of like-minded organisations, long-term aim is to develop a range of Dr Lidija Šiller, who co-authored the including the Nationwide Building self-powered sustainable buildings – team’s paper on their research, says: Society, Arup and the Energy Saving from bus stops to refugee shelters. “A dragonfly’s wings are an ultralight Trust, suggests that homebuyers aerogel – making up less than two per could take out bigger mortgages if Robots repair roads cent of the insect’s total body weight the energy ratings of properties were An EPSRC-supported consortium led – and yet they are so strong they can factored into the lending criteria of by Professor Philip Purnell from the carry the insect thousands of miles banks and building societies. University of Leeds is developing and between continents.” autonomous robots that can identify and The report, based on research led by repair potholes and cracks in our roads. The EPSRC-supported team say researchers at the EPSRC-led RCUK the next step will be to scale up the Centre for Energy Epidemiology, based The consortium, which includes UCL process to create larger panels that at UCL, was featured as a case study and the universities of Birmingham can be used to insulate our homes in the UK Government’s Clean Growth and Southampton, are working with and buildings. Strategy, published in October 2017. Leeds City Council on a range of

Photography: Mark Mallett unmanned vehicles that identify The process involves adding alkaline Healthy housing for the damage at an early stage and relay chemicals – similar to those found in displaced the information gathered to ‘fixer-bots’ household cleaning products – to the EPSRC-supported researchers at able to carry out repairs by 3D-printing soil. This transforms clay present in the the University of Bath are leading an tarmac into the cracks. soil into a geopolymer – a kind of ‘glue’, international project to improve the similar to cement – which chemically Repairing road damage at an early living conditions of millions of refugees binds the material together. stage will minimise road congestion by designing better shelters. and lower road closure costs, as well The research could provide a strong, The team are using new combinations as reduce reliance on manual labour. affordable and environmentally-friendly of conventional and non-conventional housing solution for use in developing The 3D printing systems can also materials including recycled plastic, countries where modern building be deployed on drones, which the bamboo, mud and straw to design team suggest could be used to repair materials can be environmentally shelters that can provide warmth in flat roofs and other hard-to-access damaging and expensive. winter and cool conditions during the infrastructure. summer. The most successful designs Backbone to research will be tested in local conditions in Pile drivers Dr Mohammad Mehdi Kashani, Jordan. from the University of Southampton, Every year approximately 50,000 The project has been funded through buildings are demolished in the UK, has been awarded EPSRC funding to construct a new resilience-based the Global Challenges Research Fund, generating 45 million tonnes of waste. which forms part of the UK’s Official bridge design and construction However, only a small percentage of Development Assistance commitment. this is reclaimed to be used in the inspired by the mechanics of the construction industry. human spine. Researchers at the Cambridge Constructed using low-carbon Centre for Smart Infrastructure and composite materials, which Construction, funded by EPSRC and are extremely durable against Innovate UK, working with construction environmental threats, the design will group Skanska, pioneered a way to test be resilient to dynamic and extreme whether the foundations of buildings loadings, such as those created by under demolition or reconstruction high-speed trains and abnormal can be reused – saving construction traffic. The new bridge column will be companies time and money, and manufactured off-site and assembled helping reduce environmental impact. on the construction site. The team cored into the foundation supports of a London office block under demolition. They then inserted optical fibre-based sensors to measure the strain the foundations could absorb, and then advised on which could be reused. The new building effectively retains over 50 per cent of the original structural mass – helping the company save £6 million, reduce construction time and decrease carbon emissions by over 1,000 tonnes on installation alone. The building is 80 per cent more efficient than the one it replaces. Supermud Postgraduate student Alastair Marsh, from the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Decarbonisation of the Built Environment at the University of Bath, is investigating the potential of chemically- altered soil as a viable and robust construction material for building homes in some of the world’s poorest areas. SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS Inner vision

In the 1970s, research consultant, Dr Donald Highgate, came up with the first of a career-spanning series of major innovations in materials science. His inventions are as extraordinary as they are diverse – from clever contact lenses to supercapacitors that could charge a car in minutes and keep it on the road for hundreds of miles. All based around core technology developed through fundamental science.

The common thread running conductivity. Dr Highgate’s ability As an innovator and serial through Donald Highgate’s work is to identify commercial and societal entrepreneur Dr Highgate has filed a platform technology based around opportunities arising from his core over 30 patents and founded five his development of hydrophilic technology has led to a range of companies. By far the most successful polymers (materials with an affinity products and innovations – from a skin of these is ITM Power, a ground- for water) with remarkable properties, dressing material, to contact lenses, breaking energy storage and clean fuel including, most recently, electronic and from ‘green’ energy storage to an company formed to bring to market entirely new generation of healthcare EPSRC-funded research led by Donald technologies. Highgate while he was working as a consultant and visiting researcher at Throughout, Dr Highgate has forged the universities of Surrey and Cranfield. collaborations with academics and experts in their field, combining EPSRC investment university-based expertise and The research behind ITM Power facilities with his gift for invention, began in 1995 when EPSRC awarded while building long-term relationships a grant of £63,000 to Professor John that have stood the test of time. Jones, from the University of Surrey, to develop a new material for use in hydrogen fuel cells. This project, which was instigated and led by Dr Highgate, built on a unique material that Highgate had originally developed for soft hydrophilic contact lenses.

Continued on page 58

Words: Dr Ellen Meek Life through a lens: one of the first applications for Donald Highgate’s unique new material was for a new generation of soft contact lenses. ENERGY INNOVATION

Continued from page 56 burn it and you get a little bit of carbon too much. Not everybody wants to dioxide and all the valuable materials make a cup of tea when the wind is During the 1970s, through his fall out; you can’t do that with the blowing, so, when there is an excess, successful consultancy business, industry standard material.” ITM’s solution is to store that energy Dr Highgate, with others, formed a as hydrogen which can be put to a company, IH Laboratories Ltd, that The EPSRC-funded research was not number of uses. Our focus is on large- became a major supplier of materials only pivotal in developing this new scale energy storage with two main to the UK contact lens industry, material, leading to two core patents, uses for the hydrogen: as a fuel for producing one million ‘polymer blanks’ it also consolidated Highgate’s belief zero emission vehicles and in ‘power to per year. These little pellets of polymer that the technology had powerful gas’ energy storage applications where material were purchased by contact commercial potential. the renewable hydrogen can help lens manufacturers to be machined ITM Power is born decarbonise the gas grid. into bespoke contact lenses. In 2001, Highgate co-founded ITM “Hydrogen-fuelled vehicles have a big One of the unique qualities of the Limited to take the research to market. advantage over electric vehicles when polymer blanks was their ability to The company, which evolved into ITM it comes to long-distance travel. You absorb large amounts of water up to Power Plc, has gone from strength can fill up your vehicle in less than many times their own weight. It was to strength. In 2004 it was the first three minutes and you can get about this quality that enabled manufacturers UK-based fuel cell company to go a range of 300 miles or more. The car of contact lenses to make better, more public when it was floated on AIM, also feels and drives like a normal comfortable lenses, but Highgate’s gift part of the London Stock Exchange, vehicle, albeit silently.” for innovation saw him exploiting this and it has secured over £55 million in property for use in many applications The ability to refuel quickly and travel investment since becoming publicly – from medical dressing material long distances is especially important listed. Today it employs over 70 people for Glaxo, one of the world’s leading for commercial vehicles such as and has expanded from its head office pharmaceutical companies, to a lorries, taxis and buses, which cannot in Sheffield to subsidiaries in Germany, new generation of hydrogen fuel cell spend long amounts of time recharging the USA and Denmark. membranes. Hydrogen fuel cells are in between journeys. ITM Power is on devices which convert chemical energy the case. into electricity and promise a greener Among a host of different initiatives, alternative to power generation. EPSRC support was the company is rolling out hydrogen Fast-forward to the 1990s, when EPSRC vehicle refuelling stations in the UK, support enabled Dr Highgate to both fundamental to the including a joint venture with Shell develop and patent ionically conducting that in 2017 saw the launch of the polymers suitable for application in formation of ITM first hydrogen station to be situated both fuel cells and electrolysers. The on a forecourt in the UK, at Cobham EPSRC-funded research underpinned Power services on the M25. both a new fuel cell membrane The company has identified particular material and a novel ‘single step’ fuel opportunities in the rapidly growing cell manufacturing process. European fuel cell energy bus (FCEB) Dr Highgate, who was a founding Director The new membrane was able to hold market. It has recently secured an and Director of Research on the ITM its own water and not dry out – a major order for its first FCEB refueller in Power Board until 2009, says: “EPSRC problem with the industry standard Birmingham; which it will build, own support was fundamental to the and operate. The company has also material. This hydrophilic property not formation of the company, which is still been selected as the preferred supplier only gives the fuel cells a much longer driven by its original mission of working for two further major bus projects. life expectancy, it makes them much towards a more sustainable future more sustainable. Dr Van Dijk says: “The international based on clean fuel and energy storage.” hydrogen bus market is becoming The catalyst that accelerates the Dr Highgate’s membrane is now used very exciting for us. As buses use chemical processes in hydrogen in many of ITM Power’s electrolyser a depot refuelling model, only one fuel cells is platinum, an expensive systems which ‘split’ water into hydrogen refuelling station is needed for a whole material that is not generally and oxygen. This provides a way of fleet of buses, and the fuel revenues recoverable in industry standard storing energy produced from renewable are bankable.” fuel cells without leaching harmful sources like wind and solar power. fluorides into the environment. Dr This kind of activity is the result of Highgate explains: “The reason why Dr Nicholas Van Dijk, Research a vigorous R&D programme with fuel cells are known to be expensive Director at ITM Power, says: “With academic and industry partners. ITM is because you buy the platinum and renewable resources such as wind Power is a partner on eight EPSRC- you throw it away at the end of life… and solar energy, sometimes you have With our material, at the end of life you too little and sometimes you have Continued on page 60

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 58 Fuelled for success: Dr Donald Highgate’s EPSRC-supported research in the 1990s underpinned the formation of ITM Power, a highly successful UK supplier of renewable energy. Among a host of initiatives, the company is rolling out hydrogen vehicle refuelling stations like this one across the UK. The company is still driven by its original mission of working towards a more sustainable future based on clean fuel and energy storage. Because it is able to produce its hydrogen on site using renewable energy from wind and solar sources, the company incurs zero use of carbon in generation and transport. Electric vehicles on the other hand are usually charged from the National Grid which uses a mixture of renewable and carbon-based energy sources. The company is also converting excess renewable energy into hydrogen which can be stored in the gas

Picture courtesy: ITM Power grid, helping to lower the carbon footprint of the natural gas network. 59 ENERGY INNOVATION

Continued from page 58 Tip of the iceberg Dr Highgate and his collaborators duly founded another company, It turned out that this was the tip of the supported academic/industry research Supercapacitor Materials, a wholly iceberg. The more they investigated the projects and is also a partner in two owned subsidiary of Augmented Optics, new electrically conductive polymers EPSRC Centres for Doctoral Training. in order to take this fundamental the more extraordinary were the discovery through to application. Dr Van Dijk says: “There is a huge results. They realised they were on knowledge base in the UK. As a partner the cusp of creating an entirely new But the discoveries weren’t over, as the on EPSRC-supported projects we can kind of supercapacitor, with a range of trio had come up with three other classes help drive the direction of the research potentially revolutionary applications. of electrically-conducting polymer towards commercial success. materials including one that could have Dr Howlin says: “Like rechargeable exciting applications in healthcare. “If something is useful for us we’ll help batteries, supercapacitors can be used exploit it. And even if it’s not useful for to store and release electricity, and are Professor Hamerton says: “Our us we’ll help make sure that the right already used in lots of applications, experiments led to the development of questions are answered to help that even in some electric buses in China. soft, flexible, metal-free biocompatible technology be exploited effectively.” The problem with supercapacitors is materials that can be ionically The company has also benefitted from that they don’t store much energy, so conducting or electrically conducting. the support of UK research funders need to be recharged frequently. So the This opens up the possibility of such as Innovate UK, the government’s Chinese bus has to make a lot of stops. producing a device able to communicate with the nervous system through ions innovation agency, which has awarded “Although supercapacitors charge and rather than relying on the electrical the company grants of over £1.6 million. discharge rapidly they typically store impulses used by current devices. This just one tenth of the energy a battery A new chapter would mimic the way that nerves work does. Our supercapacitor, which uses in the body.” But the story doesn’t end there for fundamentally different technology, can Dr Highgate’s unique technology. In store much, much more than that.” Dr Highgate says: “Today, if you want to order to make an effective electrolyser make contact with a nerve you stick a Professor Hamerton adds: “The device fuel cell membrane he made his wire in it… you get an output but you’re is not only able to conduct electricity, polymer material ‘ionically conducting’ not talking to it in its own language. If it can also take up water. This is and thus able to conduct positively we’re successful it would be possible important because it will prevent the charged hydronium ions. The next step to communicate directly with human material from catching fire.” was to make his material electrically nervous tissue and to transmit conducting: “By doing so, you can make So, the new supercapacitor was information in digital format… The first any electrical or electronic structure,” powerful and stable – essential for and most obvious application for this he says. This got him thinking. commercial development – but the would be that it would make excellent Again, he turned to academia to team were staggered when they prosthetic arms and legs.” find ways to exploit this opportunity. realised its true potential, so much While much remains to be done, Specifically, Dr (now Professor) Ian so that they sought independent the team have developed a range of Hamerton, a polymer chemist based at verification. practical engineering prototype devices the University of Surrey with a number Ian Hamerton, now based at the using technology that continues to of EPSRC-supported projects under University of Bristol’s Department stand up to scrutiny. his belt, who has been a friend of of Aerospace Engineering, called After 50 years of innovation, what is it Dr Highgate for over 20 years, and his in the services of his Bristol that drives Donald Highgate to keep Surrey colleague, Dr Brendan Howlin, colleague Professor David Fermin, pushing at the boundaries of materials a computational chemist. an electrochemist, asking him to put science instead of hanging up his lab Initial funding for the project was the new material through its paces. coat to reflect on a highly productive sourced through the creation of a Professor Fermin confirmed that the career? It comes down to core company, Augmented Optics, which new material was 1,000 to 10,000 values, and the development of new secured backing from city investors. times more powerful than any known capacitor materials. sustainable materials. Dr Highgate says: “Our first idea was He says: “We are probably the first to create a business that could print If it were to achieve this extraordinary generation who, if we can dream of electronically conductive components potential, the new supercapacitor could something, we can do it. onto contact lenses, which would have provide a safer, more efficient and had a range of potential applications, greener alternative to battery power – “There is a valid reason for finding a from blood sugar monitoring to hi-tech one that would allow you to recharge hydrocarbon replacement fuel that vision aids. To achieve this objective your phone in seconds or your electric won’t ruin the world for our children. we had to make the polymer both car in the same amount of time it takes The future will hold us responsible if transparent and bio-acceptable.” to fill a regular car with petrol. we don’t do it.”

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 60 Supercapcitor, super potential: Dr Donald “There is a valid Highgate (left) with Professor Ian Hamerton, a polymer chemist based in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Bristol. With reason for finding University of Surrey colleague Dr Brendan Howlin, Professor Hamerton co-led research instigated by Dr Highgate that has uncovered a hydrocarbon a new class of electronically conducting flexible polymer materials with unique properties. replacement fuel that The materials are 1,000 to 10,000 times more powerful than any known capacitor materials. If they were to achieve their won’t ruin the world extraordinary potential, they could allow you to recharge your mobile phone in seconds or to charge your electric car in the same for our children. The amount of time it takes to fill a regular car with petrol – while helping to achieve a more future will hold us sustainable future. Professor Hamerton says: “We believe this is an extremely exciting and potentially responsible if we game-changing development. The polymers that underpin the technology have many possible uses in which tough, flexible don’t do it” conducting materials are desirable, including bioelectronics, sensors, wearable electronics, and advanced optics.” Photography: Mark Mallett

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 61 In profile Professor Lynn Gladden Professor Lynn Gladden, EPSRC’s new Executive Chair, is Shell Professor of Chemical Engineering and former Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research at the University of Cambridge credit Jason Alden/QEPrize

What attracted you to the role of Executive friends can also play a role in influencing My partnerships with industry guide my Chair at EPSRC? young people – which means that we also thinking but do not control it. During my career I have worked with need to communicate the importance of How can EPSRC prosper within UKRI? EPSRC on many advisory groups and peer STEM to the general public. review panels and have also served as a We need simple, clear messaging about What do you consider your greatest member of EPSRC’s Council – its governing what EPSRC stands for – and that the professional achievements? body. Over the years I have got to know it two strands: ‘discovery-led’ and ‘outcome- as a highly professional organisation which I set out to bring magnetic resonance driven’ research are the essence of has served its community well. imaging (MRI) into the chemical engineering the organisation. sector – making it possible to create high What opportunities does UK Research and resolution 3D images of structures and Breakthrough/discovery-led science and Innovation (UKRI) present? processes in unprecedented detail. One of engineering is essential in its own right, and is a prerequisite to the development By combining all seven UK Research the areas I am particularly interested in is of technology. EPSRC has an excellent Councils with Innovate UK and Research characterising the behaviour of catalysts track record in supporting fundamental England, UKRI is a single, powerful body to while they are operating. research; and I am confident that this will promote science within the UK and globally. Just last year my research group got to flourish within UKRI while providing wider The opportunity for enhanced funding into the stage where we could actually monitor opportunities to support outcome-focused science means that the Engineering and hydrocarbon chain growth inside a catalyst research, especially that which tackles the Physical Sciences (EPS) community can pellet working inside a catalytic reactor. great challenges of our age, from food and now be even more adventurous, both in It’s fascinating to see how these new water security to antimicrobial resistance. terms of its discovery-led and outcome- measurement methods can shed light driven research. on long-standing problems in the What are your main interests outside science? Further, the ability to work more closely chemicals sector. with our partner organisations has to make Modern art – In particular, I am a Mark You’ve collaborated with major industry it easier for us to tackle new research Rothko fan. Indeed my leaving gift when partners, such as Microsoft and Johnson challenges, as well as entirely new research I left EPSRC Council was a book on the Matthey. How important is it for science questions, which require skills outside works of Rothko. However, my main to be strongly linked to industry? those held in the EPS community. pastime is walking – and I spend as much It is certainly not necessary for all individual time as I can (which isn’t much!) in the I would also like to explore opportunities science projects to be linked to industry. Peak District. for new ways of working with national However, I think that in certain fields, even labs, charities, international partners, when much of that research is still at the SMEs and big industry. I think that there ‘discovery’ end of the pipeline, we need to In short are significant opportunities to do exciting foster an environment in which industry Lynn Gladden is an internationally new science and engineering through real is made aware of new research advances recognised chemical engineer research partnerships across organisations and identify opportunities for business to whose research and development that have generally interacted much more collaborate with universities. I also think of magnetic resonance imaging at arm’s length. that university researchers do benefit from (MRI) methods have widely benefited pursuing their research with an awareness industrial processes. A high-profile How important is it to engage young of how that research might be used. This is leader across multiple disciplines, people in the excitement of engineering an extremely challenging area but I think her research has resulted in new and physical sciences? the rewards to both the academic and products and process technologies Hugely – different young people will be industrial communities would be great if across many sectors of industry, switched on to science by different things. we get it right. particularly medicine, agricultural For some, it’s the excitement of discovery. chemistry and the catalytic For others the excitement and motivation With regard to my own work, I would processes used in oil refineries. is to make a difference and to deliver social have continued to develop MRI to look at benefit through their career. Of course, catalytic processes without an industrial partner – because it was what I was Lynn is a Fellow of the Royal Society these two motivations are not mutually and Royal Academy of Engineering. exclusive! interested in. However, my collaborations with industrial partners have given me She was awarded a CBE for services The need to introduce young people to greater understanding of the questions to chemical engineering in 2009 and science, technology, engineering and that industry really needs an answer to, was elected a Foreign Member of the mathematics (STEM) in school is well and I have learned a lot from colleagues US National Academy of Engineering understood although there is still a long in industry who have introduced me to in 2015. way to go. Older family members and new ideas in chemistry and mathematics.

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 62

EPSRC AT A GLANCE

Percentage of research portfolio that is multidisciplinary: 68%

Total value of EPSRC’s research and training portfolio: Atom trap

£4.6 billion This image of a single positively-charged strontium atom, held near motionless by electric fields, won the overall prize in EPSRC’s 2017 Science Photography Competition. Single Atom in an Ion Trap, by David Nadlinger, from the University of Oxford, Organisations involved shows the atom held by the fields emanating from the metal electrodes surrounding it. The distance between the small needle tips is about two in collaborative EPSRC millimetres. grants: When illuminated by a laser of the right blue-violet colour the atom absorbs and re-emits light particles sufficiently quickly for an ordinary camera to capture it in 3,800 a long exposure photograph. The winning picture was taken through a window of the ultra-high vacuum chamber that houses the ion trap. The image attracted media interest worldwide and drew the public’s attention to EPSRC’s portfolio. All EPSRC-supported researchers are eligible to enter Percentage of the competition, and the deadline this year is 17 December. Entry forms are available from the EPSRC website. research portfolio that is collaborative: About the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 55% EPSRC is part of UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid from the UK government. epsrc.ukri.org. EPSRC is the main funding body for engineering and physical sciences research in the UK. By investing in research and postgraduate training, we Total leveraged from are building the knowledge and skills base needed to address the scientific and technological challenges facing the nation. users: Our portfolio covers a vast range of fields, from healthcare technologies to structural engineering, manufacturing to mathematics, advanced £ 1.1 billion materials to chemistry. The research we fund has impact across all sectors. It provides a platform for future UK prosperity by contributing to a healthy, connected, resilient, productive nation.

PIONEER 19 Autumn 2018 63 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

SPECIAL EDITION: SCIENCE FOR 16 A CONNECTED NATION Super brain Professor Steve Furber – building a computer to think like a human

Greener trucking Cooler ice cream Safer water Smarter energy networks Faster supercomputers

Pioneer 16 19 july.indd 1 19/07/2016 09:05:24

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