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Our Impact
Societal and economic benefit through materials innovation
Mechanical Assessment of Aerospace Engine Materials in Hydrogen
This work pilots Royce Institute facilities for the assessment of H2 effects and establishes a UK leading capability which can continue to support the development of materials technologies for hydrogen powered aerospace industry and the wider hydrogen powered economy.
Enzymatic Recycling of Polyurethane Foams
Enzymatic approaches to plastic recycling have received considerable attention, however to date efforts have largely focussed on PET deconstruction. This study focused on polyurethane (PU)from alternating aromatic diisocyanate (e.g. MDI) and polyol building blocks.
Novel Functional Coating Strategy for Preventing Hydrogen Embrittlement in Metals
Hydrogen can cause catastrophic failures to structural materials. This study aimed to develop a new coating solution to prevent such failures by recovering materials’ mechanical properties.
Solutions for Low to High Temperature Energy Recovery from Industrial Waste Heat Streams
This project assesses the performance of heat exchanger materials for a waste to energy system at laboratory scale. The high and low temperature degradation behaviour of IN625 & SS316 bare and with coating was examined.
A NOVEL HYBRID HIGH-TEMPERATURE SUPERCONDUCTOR (HTS) TRAPPED FIELD MAGNET
The Royce Wide Bore Magnet at the University of Cambridge was used by researchers from the University of Strathclyde to investigate trapped fields of a HTS-stacked ring magnet with and without HTS stacks inserted and observed a novel characteristic.
IDENTIFYING STRUCTURE-PERFORMANCE RELATIONS FOR FAST-CHARGE BATTERY ANODES
The project employed advanced operando characterisation, electrochemical analysis and a multi-physics model to identify and quantify chemical and physical constraints during fast-charging, comparing state-of-the-art graphite and nanocluster carbon (a disordered carbon) anodes.
Establishment of Electrochemical Micro Test Facilities for Developing Electrocatalysts for the Generation of Hydrogen
A unique alkaline water electrolysis test rig has been built and commissioned at the University of Manchester using Royce ICP funding.
NANO-ENGINEERING NI-GA INTERFACES FOR LOW PRESSURE METHANOL PRODUCTION
The project explored the use of hydrogen, coupled with the conversion of CO2, for the sustainable synthesis of chemical feedstocks, including methanol and higher hydrocarbons. This could result in 90% drop in CO2 emissions.
CHARACTERISING MATERIALS TO ENHANCE THE PERFORMANCE OF INSULATION SYSTEMS
Investigating the thermal, mechanical, and dielectric properties of various insulation systems used in aerospace and automotive applications to locate and image failure locations.
Manufacturing Carbon-Neutral Steel by 2040
A new manufacturing research hub will help revolutionise the industry and reduce the environmental impact of steel production – currently responsible for 9% of global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels.
The influence of nanoprecipitation on the mechanical properties of microalloyed steels for the automotive industry
Two alloys were made using Royce expertise and equipment to evaluate the effect of Chromium (Cr) on precipitation, ferrite fraction and morphology. They were also reheated and isothermally transformed, while the reheating temperature was changed to evaluate their effect on the tensile properties.
Designing Materials for Safer Nuclear Power
Royce researchers will help make nuclear power cleaner, cheaper and safer – working with international industry to better understand the performance of critical components in the fuel assemblies of reactors.
Expert Witnesses for UK Pharma
Royce researchers at the University of Leeds acted as expert witnesses for GSK in a patent dispute, using state-of-the-art electron microscopy to map particles in an inhaler powder used to treat progressive lung disease.
Understanding Next Gen Battery Lifetime
Royce microscopy capability gives new insight into solid-state battery lifetime and stability – critical for next generation energy storage, from devices to transport.
Coating technology for future flight
A prestigious research Chair will develop next-generation coatings for use in aero gas turbine engines, working with Rolls Royce to improve environmental, performance and fuel efficiency standards.
Battery innovation for electric transport
Royce researchers will help make batteries lighter, cheaper, safer and more efficient – understanding the all-solid-state battery, critical to developing batteries required for the electrification of vehicles.
Understanding novel transistor technologies for a more connected world
Access to the Royce High-Voltage Electrical Characterisation Suite enabled Cambridge GaN devices to characterise transistor prototypes to exploit the new emerging material’s semiconductor capabilities.
Developing superconducting materials for energy-efficient supercomputers
Researchers at the University of Leeds are benefiting from the Henry Royce Institute’s pioneering deposition equipment to make efficient memory devices using supercomputers.
Metallographic Analysis of Welds on Lithium Battery Cells
EC-OG received funding and expertise from the Henry Royce Institute to perform metallographic examinations using Royce facilities at the University of Oxford’s Materials Characterisation Service (OMCS).
Developing innovative electrotherapies to treat brain cancer
QV Bioelectronics Ltd is developing a pioneering electrotherapy implant for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme that aims to transform patient outcomes.
The effect of fusion plasmas on the microstructure of tungstentantalum alloys
The University of Sheffield’s Arcast 200 Arc Melter has produced tungstentantalum alloys in complete solid solution using a novel processing method. This will be the focal point of research to investigate the effect of a nuclear fusion environment through helium plasma exposure and helium ion irradiation.
Development of high energy density multilayer ceramic capacitors
The University of Sheffield’s Functional Materials and Devices (FMD) Group has utilised the expertise and equipment of the Henry Royce Institute to develop novel Lead Oxide (PbO)-free high energy density capacitors, which are currently undergoing prototype testing with UK-based multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) manufacturers.
The effect of fusion plasmas on the microstructure of tungstentantalum alloys
The EPSRC funded Royce Industrial Collaboration Programme (ICP) has successfully matched companies that have research, development, and innovation (RD&I) projects with Royce experts in materials science and cutting-edge facilities in a truly collaborative endeavour. This case study illustrates the outcome of an ICP project between Johnson Matthey and Royce at Imperial College London.
Validating novel silver technology for a greener, wasteless future
Metalchemy is a high growth, UK-based, clean-tech start-up, focused on developing solutions to reduce food waste, resulting in both economic and environmental savings. Incorporating Metalchemy’s silver technology into food packaging materials delivers superior antimicrobial properties, improved barrier characteristics, and enhanced thermal stability. Through the Royce SME Equipment Access scheme Metalchemy was able to undertake important characterisation to assess the adherence of integration methods in packaging materials.
Sustainable Replacements for Coal Tar Pitch Binders used in the Foundation Industries
Building upon a deep established academic-Morgan collaboration, this ICP-Royce funding has allowed us to explore the use of wood tar biopitch (WTB) as a sustainable replacement for coal tar pitch (CTP), which is used throughout the foundation industries as a carbonisable/graphitizable binder.
TRACKING RECYCLED CONTENT IN PLASTICS AND PACKAGING: RECON²
ReCon² is a University of Manchester spin-out initiative developing a low cost, simple, and quantitative method of verifying recycled content in plastic items through the incorporation of low quantities of fluorescent tracer molecules.
NETZERO REFRIGERATION WITH ADVANCED MAGNETOCALORICS (NRAM)
This study evaluated the cutting speed and surface finish of BN, SiC, alumina, and diamond blades and slurries for wire cutting of LaFeSi intermetallic for magnetocaloric cooling.
NOVEL TUNGSTEN CARBIDE ELECTROCATALYSTS FOR GREEN HYDROGEN ELECTROLYSIS
This project focused on development of novel tungsten-carbide coatings for potential use as alternative electrocatalysts to produce green hydrogen by direct seawater electrolysis.
Novel Device Fabrication Techniques to Accelerate Quantum Networking
Supporting the development of superior quantum optics to improve the efficiency, fidelity & speed of Quantum Computing and Quantum Networks, through access to state-of-the-art facilities.
UNDERSTANDING NOVEL TRANSISTOR TECHNOLOGY TO DELIVER ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Supporting the development of the next generation of small, reliable, and energy-efficient devices through the Royce industrial collaboration programme to deliver fully functional samples and reduce C02.
Ultimate Erosion-resistant Solutions for Wind Turbines
Edge erosion is a leading concern in wind turbines and represents a major fraction of the maintenance cost. The results of this project demonstrate that the deposition of nanostructured nickel is a promising approach to avoid erosion.
Structural materials and meta-data for thermochemical electrolysis
The project developed database and informatics (data classification, machine learning algorithm, relationship between materials and information) for high temperature thermochemical electrolysis.
Mechanistic understanding of solid oxide cell (SOC) electrode aging using multiscale characterisation
Solid oxide cells (SOCs) are the cleanest and most efficient technology among the electrochemical energy conversion devices. This project has significantly improved our understanding of the air electrode degradation mechanism solving issues in SOC durability and reliability and assisting development of a lifetime prediction model, minimising the barriers to commercialisation.
Multimodal, Operando Raman and X-ray Spectroscopies of Electrochemical Energy Storage Materials (MORSE)
This project has developed new capability in the UK for performing multimodal operando Optical and X-ray characterisation of battery materials.
