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Research at the University of Cambridge, Department of Physics on sensitive techniques for measurements of magnetic and electrical properties of materials led to the selection of Dr Michael Sutherland as an expert witness in a series of major police investigations involving fraudulent bomb detecting equipment. Scientific evidence Dr Sutherland presented in court was key in securing guilty verdicts, leading to the breakup in 2013 of several international fraud rings with combined revenue in excess of £70 million. This criminal activity had caused significant damage to the reputation of the UK in Iraq and elsewhere.
Raman thermography, a new technique for measuring channel temperature in semiconductor electronic devices developed at the University of Bristol, has been used by many companies to characterise their semiconductor devices. The technology has enabled companies to develop more robust, reliable, higher performing devices and circuits for high-end space, radar, communication and power conversion applications. This is illustrated here in detail on the example of the company, United Monolithic Semiconductor (UMS) (Germany-France), which used the technique to improve the lifetime of its Gallium Nitride (GaN) and Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) semiconductor devices so that they meet customer requirements for product qualification. Corresponding impact resulted for the companies TriQuint (USA), Northrup Grumman (USA), QinetiQ (UK), Selex Galileo (UK & Italy), NXP (UK & Netherlands), Thales Alenia Spaciale (France), Sharp (Japan) and Hitachi Cable (Japan).
The commercialisation of Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCL) and the associated novel fabrication processes developed at the University of Glasgow has provided Compound Semiconductor Technologies Global Ltd (CSTG) with a new foundry product supplying quantum cascade lasers for gas sensing, safety and security, and military applications. This resulted in 40% turnover growth from 2010-2012 and the company is now recognised as a global leader in QCLs and their fabrication. Based on University of Glasgow research, the company has created a manufacturing toolbox for the production of a wide variety of QCL chip designs. CSTG has also achieved a world first, manufacturing QCLs for systems that detect explosives at a safe distance and can counter heat-seeking missile attacks on aircraft.
Diffusion bonding (DB) is well-known for producing structured materials with fine scale features and is a critical technology for high efficiency reactors, e.g. heat exchangers and fuel cells, but currently equipment is slow and expensive (and there are size limitations to the `assemblies' that can be built). The University has researched and developed, with industry partners, a rapid affordable diffusion bonding (ADB) process involving direct heating to provide appropriate temperature and stress states and utilising flexible ultra-insulation (vacuum) for pressing titanium (and now aluminium) sheets together. The process operates at low stresses thus avoiding `channel' collapse. Investment is taking place in the partner companies to exploit the technology. A breakthrough has been achieved in the chemical machining of three dimensional structures for laminar flow technology assemblies in aluminium and titanium, that can be built by ADB.
In 2012, it is estimated the $145bn was invested in solar photovoltaic technology. Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSC) are expected to play an increasing role in renewable energy generation over the next decade and beyond, but several practical issues need to be overcome to facilitate large-scale economic production. Fundamental research at Bangor has laid the ground for collaborative work with industry which has overcome several of the key production constraints in their manufacture, increasing production speed and efficiency and substantially reducing costs. As a result, we have developed a Technology Roadmap with a major multinational partner (TATA) which has led to significant investment in plant and to the production of pilot products in the form of photovoltaic roofs, currently undergoing outdoor testing.
Our research on semiconductor materials and devices has led to the establishment by e2v Technologies of a combined manufacturing, research and development facility within the School of Physics and Astronomy. We have adapted and transferred device simulation software to e2v, and have provided epitaxially-grown semiconductors and access to fabrication facilities which have been used in their manufacturing processes. Devices fabricated within the facility, which was opened in 2011, have generated sales of £7M for e2v. This initiative has also led to shifts in the investment priorities of e2v, and mitigated risks to the company arising from import restrictions associated with the US International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).
Cranfield's work on ethylene supplemented storage is now exploited in the supply chains to major supermarkets in the UK, including Waitrose and Tesco, reducing waste and avoiding volatility in supply for fresh food products such as onions and potatoes. By prolonging storage life by up to six weeks it is also having a positive impact on the UK's self-sufficiency in these products, displacing imports from overseas.
Complementary work has also led to commercial ethylene scrubbing technologies for packaging, which typically save around 50% of in-store waste and add two days to the product life for a range of fruit and vegetables. Such packing is now in use in most mainstream UK supermarkets, and in the USA where it has created a new export market for the manufacturer.
As 288,000 UK construction workers were estimated to have contracted vibration white finger and 170,000 had claimed compensation by 2011 this study relates to the design and development of a hand and arm vibration (HAVmeter) monitor by the ERPE Reactec student start-up company. This company initially focussed on optimisation of sweeping for curlers, contributing to team GB winning the 2002 Winter Olympic Gold medal. The current Reactec (HAVmeter) instrument measures and reports on vibration white finger, which potentially affects 5 million British workers.
The HAVmeter has sales in excess of £9M, over the 2008-2013 period, and is now in use by 45,000 construction workers. Reactec, with 23 employees and a turnover of ~£2.5M p.a., company innovation has been recognised with 4 industrial awards since 2009.
A ground-breaking range of innovative sensor products — the EPIC Sensors — has been developed and marketed world-wide by Plessey Semiconductors Ltd. The EPIC Sensors allow contact-free measurements of electric phenomena, initially aimed at the health, sports and automotive markets. They operate on the non-invasive, low-cost, generic, award-winning Electric Potential Sensor (EPS) technology invented and developed at Sussex as a spin-off from fundamental low-temperature physics research. Income to the University from licence fees, costs and royalties started during 2012. Sustained industry engagement with key strategic partners in the medical, forensic, security, materials testing and geophysics sectors, including government organisations, industry and academia, is leading to a wider awareness and adoption of this novel technology.
The impact of this research has been of commercial benefit for TgK Scientific Ltd, a Wiltshire- based SME, who have successfully commercialised a FT-IR Stopped-Flow instrument. This has achieved market share as a result of incorporating an innovative cuvette designed and fabricated by the University of Birmingham's School of Biosciences. The company has sold nine of these instruments since they were first marketed in 2008, generating ~£200,000 in sales. This has made a substantial contribution to the company's total sales, most obviously in 2012 where sales of four instruments accounted for around 10% of their ~£800,000 turnover. The instrument allows the study of fast biological reactions by rapid scanning Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The Birmingham contribution is a cuvette of a unique design that enables biological materials to be mixed and observed after 2-3 ms, allowing enzyme-catalysed reactions which have non- chromophoric substrates to be studied in physiological conditions. TgK have combined the cuvette with their stopped-flow drive system and a spectrometer produced by Bruker to make a complete apparatus; it is believed that this gives the instrument a unique functionality valued by a significant niche market.