Funding providers: UK Shared Prosperity Fund via Neath Port Talbot Council and Grove Nanomaterials

Subject areas: The research will overlap subjects such as Materials Engineering, Physics, Physical Chemistry / Engineering, or Biomedical Sciences and wider disciplines.

Project start date: 

• 1 October 2024 (Enrolment open from mid-September)

Project supervisors: 

• Professor Richard Palmer (Primary)
• Dr Rowena Jenkins (Secondary)
• Dr Kevin Cooke (Industrial)

Aligned programme of study: MSc by Research in Materials Engineering

Mode of study: Full-time

Project description: 

Nanostructured materials already play a vital role in society. For example, the red lines on a Covid test are nanoscale gold particles. The conventional approach to their production employs solvents and chemicals which present health hazards and environmental challenges. In this project we will exploit breakthroughs in one of two connected areas, according to the expertise of the student:  

1. Development of nanoscale physics-based experimental methods, where Swansea is world leader, to achieve solvent-free synthesis and scale-up of soluble, ligand-capped metal nanoparticles of size 1-100 nm.  
2. Conjugation of the nanoparticles at source with detector molecules chosen to recognise an infectious agent or a biomarker. This will be a completely new method to tether proteins to metal clusters for diagnostics. 

Examples of the metal nanoparticles are gold for medical diagnostics and cancer treatment; iridium and platinum for clean energy (hydrogen); and silicon for photonics and solar. They will be characterised by state-of-the-art methods including XPS, SEM, TEM, dynamic light scattering, optical methods and mass spec. The production methods will combine atomistic and molecular (including protein molecule) deposition in vacuum with wafer and roll-to-roll technology, and post-processing to harvest nanoparticles on a scale beginning with grams, heading for kilograms and with the potential for tonnes – representing a revolutionary paradigm-shift in (bio) materials manufacturing at the interface between science frontiers and technological and medical applications.  

The project will suit an excellent student who enjoys design, practical experimental work, computer modelling and innovative ideas and wishes to contribute to a healthy planet. Your background could be in physics, physical chemistry/engineering, or biomedical sciences, and your role will be tuned accordingly. You will have good communication and teamwork skills, and an international outlook. 

The co-sponsoring company Grove Nanomaterials Ltd springs from Swansea University and has licensed the background patents invented by the Primary Supervisor. It is ambitious and friendly. The work envisaged has the potential to contribute to significant national and international impact in terms of health, economic growth, University reputation and new scientific publications. The studentship will help to seal the relationship between University and company. Moreover Grove’s benefit is the University’s benefit, as a shareholder.