Department
of Engineering Materials
Areas of Interest:
The electroceramics section
in the department has an international reputation for elucidating the
structure-composition-property relationships of functional oxides, in particular
in the fields of solid electrolytes (oxide ion conductors, lithium ion
conductors), mixed ionic/electronic conductors and dielectric materials (piezo-, pyro-, ferro-electrics and microwave dielectric resonators).
Activity and Expertise:
Current materials of interest as oxide ion solid
electrolytes include Rare-Earth Apatites, cubic and
mixed hexagonal/cubic close packed perovskites and
Bismuth-based fluorites. The group’s aim is to optimise the properties of known
electroceramics via control of the composition,
defect chemistry and ceramic microstructure and to discover new materials via
explorative phase diagram studies and novel chemical doping mechanisms. Expertise include; phase diagram and chemical
doping studies, defect chemistry, crystallography (X-ray, Neutron and Electron
Diffraction) , analytical electron microscopy ( eg SEM/TEM with EDX, EPMA, EELS and PEELS) and electrical
characterisation by Impedance Spectroscopy.
Credentials:
Graded 5*A for research in RAE2001 (and RAE1996) and
recently awarded ~£6M for a Portfolio Partnership from the Engineering and
Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to study Advanced Ceramics, Polymers
and Composites.
Fuel cell and/or Hydrogen courses and modules offered:
Lecture course on Solid Oxide Fuel Cells as part of
module MAT373 (Advanced Ceramics, Glasses and Coatings).
Contact: Derek C Sinclair
Email: d.c.sinclair@sheffield.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)114 2225974
Address: Department of Engineering Materials,
Mappin Street,
Website: www.sheffield.ac.uk/materials/