Wolfson Centre for Materials Processing
View our websiteFunder: Innovate UK
Duration: May 2023 - April 2024
Development of the use of recycled homeware products using 100% recycled polymer and manufactured in the UK
Funder: Natural Environment Research Council
Duration: January 2021 - July 2024
Funder: Innovate UK
Duration: January 2021 - June 2021
Funder: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Duration: January 2021 - June 2022
Funder: Natural Environment Research Council
Duration: November 2020 - October 2022
Funder: UKRI I3 Fund
Duration: January 2020 - August 2021
Funder: Defence and Security Accelerator
Duration: September 2019 - March 2020
Funder: UK-India Education and Research Initiative
Duration: August 2019 - November 2020
Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration
Funder: Innovate UK
Duration: June 2019 - May 2021
Funder: InnovateUK
Duration: June 2019 - September 2021
Funder: Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council
Duration: May 2019 - May 2022
Funder: National Structural Integrity Research Centre
Duration: October 2017 - September 2020
Funder: Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council
Duration: September 2017 - August 2019
Funder: InnovateUK
Duration: April 2017 - March 2020
High efficiency solid state lighting (SSL), in the form of LEDs, is becoming the main light source for general lighting. Unfortunately LEDs cannot operate at high power without loss of efficiency, a problem which does not affect laser diode light sources. Algae growth and horticulture are areas where maximal efficiency with an optimal light spectrum is critical to achieving the lowest running costs. Laser diodes, correctly heat managed and integrated with spectrum selected, low cost phosphors capable of handling high light intensities, and integrated optics for channelling and spreading the light, offer a means of developing next generation light sources for plant growth. The project will integrate the technology components, including laser diode sources, their power supplies and heat management, new phosphor materials, designs for optical light guides and light spreading including the phosphors and their heat management, along with production techniques and integrate them into systems for submersible, full volume algae growth and area illumination plant horticulture. The prototypes will be installed and monitored in test sites for algae growth for waste water treatment and plant growth in an indoor farm.
Funder: InnovateUK
Duration: April 2017 - March 2020
Whilst the universal adoption of pesticides has provided previously unheard of improvements in crop yields evidence increasingly suggests multifaceted problems linked with long term exposure to these chemicals; issues spanning society, economy, environment & human health. Policy driven commercial pressure is therefore mounting to develop more sustainable solutions for the control of economically important pests & diseases in edible crops. Global agriculture is addressing this problem largely via genetic modification of crops for improved pest resistance but this approach that cannot be easily scaled for the diversity of high-value crops grown by global horticulture (fresh fruit & veg) even if consumers would accept it; which is far from certain. However, the fact that many horticultural crops are grown under protection (primarily plastic crop covers) offers a potential solution. Our unique research shows that crop pests and diseases rely on the presence of very specific wavelengths of sunlight to function, reproduce and spread & the removal of these wavelengths from the growing crop provides levels of control comparable to chemical pesticides. To bring this technology to the global horticultural industry we first need to develop a cost effective, highly stable and wavelength specific light absorber capable of being integrated into current crop cover manufacturing processes which does not currently exist. This project seeks to develop and test such an absorber with the aim of revolutionising pest control in global horticulture and building lucrative markets for our absorber product in the global crop cover industry.
Funder: Innovate UK
Duration: April 2017 - March 2020
Funder: Transport for London
Duration: November 2016 - October 2017
Funder: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Duration: September 2015 - August 2017
Funder: European Space Agency
Duration: March 2015 - March 2018
Funder: Impact Accelerator Account
Duration: October 2014 - December 2014
Project to develop novel applications for laser powered lighting
Funder: TWI Ltd
Duration: October 2014 - September 2017
Funder: Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl)
Duration: October 2014 - January 2016
Funder: TWI Ltd
Duration: October 2014 - September 2017
Funder: Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom
Duration: September 2014 - November 2014
Funder: EPSRC
Duration: August 2014 - July 2015
Funder: European Office of Aerospace Research and Development, USA
Duration: March 2014 - March 2018