Dr Benjamin J Jones - MPhys PhD FHEA MIET MInstP CPhys

Dr Benjamin J Jones has a background in physics and materials science, and since joining ETCbrunel in 2006 has established the Centre’s research and postgraduate teaching programmes. Dr Jones leads the interdisciplinary research groups in carbon structures and forensic science making extensive use of ETCbrunel’s surface science capability.

Dr Jones’ research on diamond-like carbon includes both end-user focused work and fundamental materials science investigating the nature of the thin film structures. Applications include medical devices, aerospace and low friction coatings for increasing machining efficiency. His research has included investigations of nano-structured materials such as high-k dielectrics, indium and tin based varistors, and airborne particulates.

Nanoscale interactions are also important in forensic science, Dr Jones’ research here includes investigations of fingerprints and the study of interactions between the print, surface and development agent. Also in this field the investigation of mobile phones and SIM cards that have been damaged by fires or in explosions, to glean information for scene-of-crime forensic investigators working at accident and bomb scenes. Dr Jones’ is actively involved in Home Office work to improve forensic protocols for police forces, has given invited lectures for organisations such as The Fingerprint Society, and his research has been reported around the globe. Dr Jones’ work has been funded by bodies such as the UK Home Office, the Leverhulme Trust, EPSRC, the Royal Society, the London Development Agency, the Technology Strategy Board and industrial partners.

In addition to his research role, Dr Jones promotes the use of the Centre’s facilities and expertise in industry focused research, development and problem solving. Dr Jones effective use of surface science techniques applied to diverse industrial problems has recently been recognised by an award from the Institute of Physics, described as:

"An outstanding example of high quality university science with impact for industry".

Dr Jones also contributes to short course and masters level teaching and is leader of ETCbrunel’s MSc module ‘micro and nano analysis’.

Publications

Journal Papers

(2011) Jones, BJ., Anguilano, L. and Ojeda, JJ., Argon plasma treatment techniques on steel and effects on diamond-like carbon structure and delamination, Diamond and Related Materials 20 (7) : 1030- 1035 Download publication

(2010) Jones, BJ., Reynolds, AJ., Richardson, M. and Sears, VG., Nano-scale composition of commercial white powders for development of latent fingerprints on adhesives, Science and Justice 50 (3) : 150- 155 Download publication

(2010) Jones, BJ., Mahendran, A., Anson, AW., Reynolds, AJ., Bulpett, R. and Franks, J., Diamond-like carbon coating of alternative metal alloys for medical and surgical applications, Diamond and Related Materials 19 (7-9) : 685- 689 Download publication

(2010) Jones, BJ., Downham, R. and Sears, VG., Effect of substrate surface topography on forensic development of latent fingerprints with iron oxide powder suspension, Surface and Interface Analysis 42 (5) : 438- 442 Download publication

(2010) Glot, AB., Mazurik, SV., Jones, BJ., Bondarchuk, AN., Bulpett, R. and Verma, N., Current limiting and negative differential resistance in indium oxide based ceramics, Journal of the European Ceramic Society 30 (2) : 539- 544 Download publication

(2009) Jones, BJ., Commentary on: Mou Y, Lakadwar J, Rabalais JW. Evaluation of shooting distance by AFM and FTIR/ATR analysis of GSR. J Forensic Sci 2008;53:1381-6., Journal of Forensic Sciences 54 (2) : 502- Download publication

(2009) Podgoric, S., Jones, BJ., Bulpett, R., Troisi, G. and Franks, J., Diamond-like carbon/epoxy low-friction coatings to replace electroplated chromium, Wear 267 (5-8) : 996- 1001 Download publication

(2008) Jones, B. and Anson, AW., In diamond health – diamond-like coatings for medical devices, Materials World 16 (8) : 24- 26 Download publication

(2008) Jones, BJ., Wright, S., Barklie, RC., Tyas, J., Franks, J. and Reynolds, AJ., Nanostructure and paramagnetic centres in diamond-like carbon: Effect of Ar dilution in PECVD process, Diamond and Related Materials 17 (7-10) : 1629- 1632 Download publication

(2008) Jones, BJ. and Kenyon, AJ., Retention of data in heat-damaged SIM cards and potential recovery methods, Forensic Science International 177 (1) : 42- 46 Download publication

(2008) Jones, B., Sparkling touchdown — coatings for landing gear, Materials World 16 (4) : 21- 22 Download publication

(2008) Zolgharni, M., Jones, BJ., Bulpett, R., Anson, AW. and Franks, J., Energy efficiency improvements in dry drilling with optimised diamond-like carbon coatings, Diamond and Related Materials 17 (7-10) : 1733- 1737 Download publication

(2005) Jones, BJ. and Barklie, RC., Analysis of defects at the interface between high-k thin films and (1 0 0) silicon, Microelectronic Engineering 80 74- 77

(2005) Jones, BJ. and Barklie, RC., Electron paramagnetic resonance evaluation of defects at the (100)Si/Al2O3 interface, Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics 38 (8) : 1178- 1181 Download publication

(2003) Jones, BJ., Barkie, RC., Smith, G., El Mkami, H., Carey, JD. and Silva, SRP., An EPR study at X- and W-band of defects in a-C:H films in the temperature range 5-300K, Diamond and Related Materials 12 (2) : 116- 123

(2002) Lacerda, M., Lajeune, M., Jones, BJ., Barklie, RC., Bouzerar, R., Zellama, K., Conway, NMJ. and Godet, C., Electronic properties of amorphous carbon nitride a-C₁-xNx:H films investigated using vibrational and ESR characterisations, Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids 299-302 (2) : 907- 911

(2001) Khan, RUA., Carey, JD., Silva, SRP., Jones, BJ. and Barklie, RC., Electron delocalization in amorphous carbon by ion implantation, Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics 63 (12) : 121201

(2001) Jones, BJ., Barklie, RC., Khan, RUA., Carey, JD. and Silva, SRP., Electron paramagnetic resonance study of ion implantation induced defects in amorphous hydrogenated carbon, Diamond and Related Materials 10 (3-7) : 993- 997

Conference Papers

(2008) Glot, AB., Mazurik, SV., Jones, BJ., Bondarchuk, AN., Bulpett, R. and Verma, N., Effect of sintering temperature and heat treatment on electrical properties of indium oxide based ceramics, 11th International Conference on Electroceramics Download publication

(2008) Reynolds, AJ., Jones, BJ., Sears, V. and Bowman, V., Nano-scale analysis of titanium dioxide fingerprint-development powders, EMAG2007: Electron Microscopy and Analysis Group Conference, Journal of Physics: Conference Series (126) : 12069- Download publication