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Nanomaterials research at Ulster into materials including diamond-like carbon (DLC) ultra-thin films, carbon nanotubes (CNT), graphene, silicon and metal oxide nanoparticles has resulted in direct uptake by major industrial manufacturers and led to a directly quantifiable socio-economic impact via added value, improved efficiencies and cost-savings and has secured or increased the employment of skilled engineering staff. Examples of this impact since 2008 include ceramic nanoparticles research in partnership with AVX Ltd that resulted in improved production efficiency processes (up 20%) and higher quality devices (up 10%). [text removed for publication] Research into ultra-thin DLC films, funded by Seagate, has led to their incorporation into magnetic media. [text removed for publication] Our nanoparticle research has attracted a new spin-in company SiSaf Ltd. (2009) and by incorporating NIBEC's expertise in nanomaterials into its business plan, the company was able to grow to a valuation of £3.5m and employ 7 people in skilled technical positions.
Thin-film optical filter research at the University of Reading is a unique and enabling technology that permits astronomers and meteorologists to gather data leading to increased understanding of atmospheric and astrophysical phenomena. Infrared filters are the key optical components in many satellite telescopes for Earth observation, planetary research probes and infrared astronomy. They form the eyes of the instrument to separate light into wavebands in order to measure temperature, gas composition, water vapour, dust clouds and aerosols. This data is used to generate accurate atmospheric and environmental circulation models for global climate studies, and measure properties of the universe for stellar and planetary formation theories.
An advanced plasma source based on novel engineering has been developed and proven in conjunction with Thin Film Solutions Ltd (TFSL). This source is retrofittable to existing electron- beam deposition systems and significantly improves the properties of thin films and advanced optical filters. TFSL has produced commercial products based on this source and has achieved sales to date of £2.3 million (letter from CEO of TFSL provided) as the new technology has been widely adopted in the optical filter industry.
The Thin Film Centre (TFC) group at UWS pioneered thin film materials and processes for plastic electronics with Dupont Teijin Films (DTF) Ltd and Plastic Logic (PL) Ltd over a period of nine years. This work was pivotal to the growth of PL from a start-up position resulting in the first all-polymer e-book reader and was the basis of a world leading position in the supply of specialised substrates for DTF Ltd.
Research undertaken by the University of Sheffield between 1999 and 2012 in functional oxide thin films was commercialised through knowledge transfer partnerships (KTP) with Ilika Technology. This directly led to over £1M in contracts and subsequent improvements in the commercial viability of the product base of blue-chip companies such as Toshiba, Toyota and Ceramtec and contributed to the increase in Ilika's turnover to ~£2M per annum and a growth in staff from 5 to 35 in 2012. In 2011, Ilika floated on the stock exchange with a valuation of ~£20M. The CEO has personally recognised the role Sheffield has played in establishing Ilika Technology as a limited company and in growing company revenue through contracts with leading multinationals.
Surrey Spin-out Surrey Nano Systems (SNS) is a business based around key patents resulting from the work of Prof. Ravi Silva and his team. SNS has raised over £11M from investors who have scrutinised the technology and recognise its value. The business develops technologies for low-substrate-temperature growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and for novel low-k dielectric materials both of which align with the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS). SNS is working closely with multinational leaders and has attracted a team that includes senior management experience of selling into the semiconductor process equipment market.
Ehiasarian and Hovsepian of the Materials and Engineering Research Institute (MERI) have achieved significant economic impact through industrial uptake of their innovations in High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HIPIMS). Exploiting these innovations, HIPIMS treatments have been used by manufacturers to enhance the surface properties of millions of pounds worth of products. Applications include industrial blades, components within jet turbines, replacement hip joints, metallised semiconductor wafers and satellite cryo-coolers. Patents based on Ehiasarian and Hovsepian's research have achieved commercial success. In the REF impact period, HIPIMS machines equipped to deliver MERI''s HIPIMS surface pre-treatment have achieved sales of over £5m, and income generated through SHU's HIPIMS-related licences has totalled £403,270. In 2010 Ehiasarian's group established the Joint Sheffield Hallam University-Fraunhofer IST HIPIMS Research Centre, the first such Centre in the UK. This has broadened the industrial uptake of MERI's HIPIMS technologies and stimulated a network of sub-system providers.
This research within the Unit was in collaboration with TT Electronics plc. to develop a novel low-ohmic thin film resistor for precision current measurement in power management applications. TT Electronics plc. is an international company with 6,000 employees worldwide and annual sales of over £500 million to multinational clients such as BMW, Daimler and BAE Systems. Since 2008 the benefits of this research to TT Electronics plc. include:
Research in the Mechanical Engineering Department has led to a series of experimental techniques for measuring the fundamental properties of lubricants in a scientific manner. These include measurement of the thickness, structure and properties of fluid and solid lubricating films, as well as the friction, fatigue and wear behaviour of lubricated surfaces.
Measuring instruments based upon these techniques have been commercialised by a spin-out company, PCS Instruments, which has now become the largest supplier of Tribology test equipment in the world. Over the period 2008-13 it had a turnover of £39.8M (£7.63M in 2012-13). The research has changed the way in which lubricants and lubricant additives are developed, with PCS test rigs in use in all the major lubricant and additive companies, as well as many University tribology research and National Standards laboratories. The techniques have enabled the development by industry of a new generation of high-efficiency lubricants for automotive applications.
Super-repellent surfaces created by plasmachemical techniques invented at Durham University have been exploited by P2i as the Ion-mask™ and Adiron™ brands and used to protect the surfaces of millions of products worldwide including: 3 million pairs of footwear (Timberland, Hi- Tec); 8 million mobile phones (Nokia, Motorola, Alcatel); 60% of the world's hearing aids (HLT, GN Resound); 55,000 feet of filter media (Porvair); and 100 million pipette tips (Eppendorf). This has earned P2i industry awards including the 2011 and 2012 International Business Award for "Most Innovative Company in Europe" and the "Global Business Excellence Award" 2012. The combined turnover of P2i since 2008 was ca. £20M, it received external investment of £31.75M and has created 115 new jobs. A DU IP-holding spin-out company, Surface Innovations, was purchased by P2i in 2010, and further applications of DU plasmachemical functionalization were commercialized by Dow Corning Plasma Solutions Ltd and exploited in-period.