Innovation and Knowledge Centre in Multiple Length Scale Manufacturing (IKC-MLSM)

Completed

Renewable Energy Sources(Solar Energy, Photovoltaics)
Not Energy Related
Other Power and Storage Technologies(Energy storage)

Basic and strategic applied research

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry)
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Metallurgy and Materials)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Professor M Rosseinsky
Chemistry
University of Liverpool

Standard

EPSRC

01 January 2009

31 December 2013

60 months

£1

Manufacturing

North West

User-Led Research

Professor M Rosseinsky, Chemistry, University of Liverpool

Professor PR Chalker, Centre for Materials and Structures, University of Liverpool
Professor A Cooper, Chemistry, University of Liverpool
Professor A Cossins, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool
Professor D Fernig, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool
Professor S Rannard, Chemistry, University of Liverpool
Dr CJ Sutcliffe, Centre for Materials and Structures, University of Liverpool
Professor MRH White, Life Sciences, University of Manchester
Dr R Williams, Clinical Sciences, University of Liverpool

The commercialisation of fundamentally new materials is central to future UK knowledge-based economies. This IKC will deliver a unique combination of innovative manufacturing technologies, materials discovery and processing capability, coupled with state-of-the-art infrastructure in the emergent area of Multiple Length Scale Manufacturing (MLSM) - that is, the ability to assemble in a manufacturing environment atoms or molecules with precision and atomic-scale specificity to generate devices and arrays with a designed function. This will be achieved by control over different length scales imposed by seamless integration of top-down (macro-, micro-) and bottom-up (nano-, meso-scale) technologies in an integrated academic-industry working-level partnership.IKC-MLSM will enable the successful commercial deployment of disruptive nanotechnologies in market-transforming products. The emergence of nanoscience is based on the common theme of exquisite structural and chemical control at the nanoscale level translating into new and controllable functions. However, the commercial application of these powerful nanoscale-enabled capabilities is impeded by the absence of scalable methods to embed such functionality within micron-scale structures or devices. IKC-MLSM will achieve the close integration of the nanoscale capability with the sophisticated tools of rapid manufacturing and prototyping of complex micron-scale components and products, thus enabling step-change market-transforming advances by taking nanoscience to application by purposeful integration with engineering.IKC-MLSM is based on two core competences of (i) Advanced Materials Discovery of "game-changing" materials with transforming figures of merit (e.g., high mobility low T ionic conductors) and their deposition with sub-nanometer precision onto substrates with complex surfaces, and; (ii) Additive Manufacturing which adds competitive advantage to technologies emerging from the materials discovery activity by offering design freedoms not possible with other manufacturing processes.These competences are deployed in two application areas:(1) Nanostructured materials for consumer products, healthcare and manufacturing hygiene: multiple length-scale structuring of soft matter will generate novel consumer product morphologies - for example, bottom-up fabrication of organic nanomaterials by IOTA Nanosolutions. Bespoke nanostructured surfaces will have applications from healthcare (e.g., multi-modal non-invasive imaging) to ensuring manufacturing hygiene via advanced reporting functions.(2) Energy and sustainability: energy generation and raw materials usage costs will radically redefine future markets. Key disruptive technologies (e.g. ultra-high energy-density batteries, photovoltaic devices) depend wholly on functional materials advances (e.g., robust low T electrolytes, inexpensive transparent conducting oxides) integrated into devices by the nanofabrication manufacturing capabilities ofIKC-MLSM. A key strength is partnership with the St Andrews Centre for Advanced Materials, which will take new materials from our world-leading discovery capability to application in energy conversion and storage devices (e.g., via the spin-out St. Andrews Fuel Cells).Our unique infrastructure (e.g., 9.5M Centre for Materials Discovery & Ultra Mixing and Processing Facility) integrated with rapid manufacturing and prototyping and a diverse bio-science/engineering campus will give IKC-MLSM unrivalled capability to move at a globally competitive rate and to access key markets which will be defined in close collaboration with our industry partners. The core team, with translational, marketing, commercial and outreach functions, will be lead independently by a business-experienced technology-led Managing Director within a structure which focuses on building a common shared vision while minimizing key project risks (such as technology uptake & competitor activity) from the outset

07/11/11