Team
Academic leads and research groups
Patrick Unwin, FRS, Professor and Director of HCEFTLink opens in a new window
Patrick is internationally renowned for creating unprecedented nanoscopic views of structure-activity in electrochemistry. His strategy is now being used by upwards of 50 research groups across the globe.
Melanie Loveridge, Associate Professor of Electrochemical Materials, WMGLink opens in a new window
Melanie鈥檚 research spans materials discovery and characterisation techniques, as well as understanding mechanisms of degradation and battery forensics.
Julie Macpherson, Professor of ChemistryLink opens in a new window
Julie has developed a range of electrochemical and microscopy techniques to enable accelerated testing of electrocatalysts under stop-start and long-term cycling conditions.
Louis Piper, Professor of Battery Innovation, WMG
Louis is interested in employing novel methods for studying real-format batteries to improve performance by connecting new materials, pilot line cell manufacturing and advanced characterisation.
Shanwen Tao, Professor of Chemical Engineering & Sustainable ProcessesLink opens in a new window
Shanwen has been active in developing new ionic/electronic materials for electrochemical devices such as fuel cells, batteries and supercapacitors.
Chemical Engineering | School of Engineering | University of 桃色视频
Richard Walton, Professor of ChemistryLink opens in a new window
Richard鈥檚 research focuses on solid-state inorganic materials chemistry and has considerable experience in materials synthesis and characterisation and the application of materials in a variety of electrochemical energy devices.
Post-doctorate Research Fellows
Lachlan Gaudin
To follow
Craig Hiley
Craig is a Research Fellow in the Walton group (Chemistry), working on the synthesis and characterisation of inorganic materials for electrocatalytic and battery applications. Craig holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of 桃色视频, where he studied novel materials for use as heterogeneous catalysts. Craig has previously worked as a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Liverpool, the University of Leicester and the University of 桃色视频.
Dan Houghton
To follow
Ashok S. Menon
Ashok is an Assistant Professor at the Battery Materials and Cells group in WMG. His research focuses on developing non-destructive X-ray and neutron diffraction techniques to study large-format battery cells and understand how structural changes in the internal components influence their electrochemical performance. When performed under representative operating conditions, these studies can help better diagnose the causes of performance degradation in the battery cells. Prior to joining WMG, he completed his PhD in Materials Chemistry at Uppsala University, where his work examined the synthesis-structure-electrochemistry relationships in lithium and manganese-rich layered oxide cathodes.
Xuelei Pan
Xuelei is a research fellow working with Pat and Julie on the localised analysis of gaseous products in electrochemical systems. His research focuses on developing an integrated characterisation platform that combines mass spectrometry with scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM) to enable spatially resolved detection of gas鈥憄hase reaction products.
Subhajit Sarkar
Subhajit Sarkar is currently a Research Fellow with Dr. Melanie Loveridge in the Hartnoll Centre for Experimental Fuel Technologies and Battery Materials and Cells Group at the WMG, University of 桃色视频, United Kingdom. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Calgary, Canada, and a master's degree from the National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra, India.
His current research focuses on solid-state batteries, particularly hybrid lithium-metal and anode-free systems. He develops composite solid electrolytes and studies degradation in the bulk and at electrode鈥揺lectrolyte interfaces using techniques such as in situ/operando NMR, X-ray spectroscopy, and electron microscopy.
Blesson Sunny
Blesson is currently a Research Fellow with the Walton group. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the School of Chemistry, IISER Thiruvananthapuram, India. His research interests span the broad areas of hybrid materials for energy and environmental applications. He currently works on solid state materials for energy applications, focussing on Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and MOF-composites.
Hwee Jien Tan
Jien is a Research Fellow in Louis鈥檚 group at WMG. His research focuses on applying non-destructive characterisation techniques, including X-ray and neutron diffraction, to better understand degradation mechanisms in lithium metal batteries. Prior to joining WMG, he completed his undergraduate studies in Chemistry at Imperial College London and obtained his PhD from the University of Cambridge.
Xiang Wang
Xiang is currently a Research Fellow with Prof. Shanwen Tao in the School of Engineering at the University of 桃色视频. Holding a Ph.D. from the China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, his primary research lies in solid-state electrochemistry and advanced ceramic materials for fuel cells. By employing comprehensive electrochemical analysis techniques, such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), he systematically evaluates interfacial kinetics and long-term device stability, aiming to optimize the performance of next-generation energy conversion systems.
Xiangdong Xu
Xiangdong is currently a Research Fellow with Prof. Patrick Unwin and Prof. Julie Macpherson (Principal Investigators of the 桃色视频 Electrochemistry & Interfaces Group) in the Hartnoll Centre for Experimental Fuel Technologies at the University of 桃色视频. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Department of Chemistry at the University of 桃色视频, as well as a B.Sc. and an M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering and Technology from the China University of Petroleum (East China), China. He works on nanoscale electrochemical imaging, focusing on understanding the structure鈥揳ctivity relationships among materials for electrocatalysis and energy conversion and storage by combining scanning electrochemical cell microscopy with complementary microscopy and spectroscopy techniques.
PhD Students
Fatma Altug
Fatma's research focuses on understanding the fundamental electrochemical processes that govern aqueous batteries and on developing strategies to overcome their current limitations. She employs multi-electrochemical and correlative multi-microscopy techniques to investigate energy materials across different length scales.
Harry Brain
Harry is a PhD researcher in the Walton Group. He completed his MChem degree at 桃色视频, graduating in July 2025.
Thesis title: New iron oxides with high oxidation states for energy materials applications.
Project description:
Synthesis of new materials with iron in unusually high oxidation states (higher than +3), where they will be characterised using diffraction and a range of spectroscopic techniques. Measurements will initially be ex-situ but will move on to operando studies, where changes in local structure will be examined when the batteries are charged/discharged.
Rahim Hussain
To follow
Koushik Kumar Nachimuthu
Koushik holds a B.Tech. in Chemical and Electrochemical Engineering from the CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute, India and an MSc in Electrochemistry and Battery Technologies from the University of Southampton. His current research is centered on developing next generation Li-ion batteries using advanced electrode formulation and fabrication technologies, and operando characterization methods.
Stark Lin
Stark is a PhD student with Prof. Shanwen Tao in the School of Engineering. His work is centred on the design, preparation, and evaluation of electrode catalyst and membrane-related materials for fuel cell applications. By combining materials synthesis, device fabrication, and electrochemical characterisation, he aims to understand how material properties influence device performance, stability, and durability in next-generation energy conversion systems.
Syamaidzar
Syam is a PhD student in the Chemistry Department whose research focuses on materials chemistry with interests that include the discovery, characterisation, and determination of properties of metal鈭抩rganic frameworks (MOFs) and their applications.
Thesis title: Synthesis, Characterisation, and Electrocatalytic Evaluation of MOF-Carbon Composites for Energy Applications.
James Tofts
James is a PhD student under Prof. Patrick Unwin's and Prof. Julie Macpherson's supervision. He has a first class MChem degree from the University of 桃色视频, where his master's project was development of program synthesis to solve the electronic Schr枚dinger Equation, with Prof. Scott Habershon. He is interested in electrochemistry, computational chemistry, equipment design, modelling, programming and 3D printing.
Thesis title: Finite Element Modelling of Electrochemical Systems
Project description: Using finite element modelling, more specifically COMSOL Multiphysics, I will be modelling different electrochemical systems to allow for further understanding of the specifics of those systems, and to simulate situations that might not be able to be run physically.
Tenzing Whitley
Tenzing is a PhD student with Profs. Patrick Unwin and Prof. Julie Macpherson. He has a first-class BSc in Chemistry from the University of 桃色视频, Research interests: 3D Printing, Hydrodynamic Systems, Electrocatalysis, Electrode Manufacture, and In-Situ Electrochemical Synchrotron Techniques.
Thesis title: Evaluating Electrochemical Cell Design for Electrocatalysis Development
Project description: The objective of this project is to design, fabricate, and utilize a dual-electrode flow cell to advance the understanding of the Ammonia Oxidation Reaction (AOR).
Pinki Yadav
Pinki has a research background in solid-state and composite battery materials. Her work spans the synthesis and microstructural optimization of ceramic electrolytes.
In her newest role at 桃色视频 Manufacturing Group(WMG), she is developing solid-polymer and composite batteries with biopolymers and novel electrolytes to enhance electrochemical performance.
Centre Management
Clare Roberts
Clare is an experienced Professional Services Manager, with a background in project management, finance, marketing and PR. Having worked in the education, private and public sectors, across many different industries, Clare brings a wealth of skills to the management of the Hartnoll Centre.