Reliable, Scalable and Affordable Thermoelectrics: Spin Seebeck Based Devices for Energy Harvesting
Lead Research Organisation:
Loughborough University
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
As part of the Energy Efficiency Directive, the UK has committed to a 20% increase in energy efficiency, a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20% and an increased share of renewable energy sources (compared to 1990 levels) by 2020. To address these challenges a stable and diverse range of energy sources will need to be developed and, unsurprisingly, this has been the focus of an intense international research effort. The associated research challenges can be loosely categorised into renewable sources (solar, wind, tidal), sustainable sources (e.g. carbon capture, fusion), and micro generation (e.g. energy harvesting from thermal, light, sound, or vibrational sources). One example of such sources is the harvesting of waste heat with thermoelectric generators (TEGs), a technology that has the advantage of reliability (no moving parts), but is limited by high costs (use of critical elements such as Te) and low efficiencies (<10% for a 200K temperature difference). Given the abundant sources of waste heat in everyday life (boilers, engines, computers, district heat networks), development of low-cost TEGs that could easily be applied to various surfaces could present a significant vector for change. For example, harvesting just 5% of the energy lost as waste heat by car engines in the UK would save the equivalent of 1 hundred thousand equivalent tonnes of oil per year (or ~1% of the UK's total energy usage in 2014).
Conventional TEGs are typically based on the Seebeck effect: a physical process that results in the generation of an electric current when a temperature difference exists between two ends of a material. One of the bottlenecks for improvement of the efficiency of these devices is the co-dependence of two key material properties: the thermal and electric conductivity. Whilst some progress has been made to circumvent this by nano-engineering, there is still some way to go before widespread commercialisation becomes viable. This could, however, be overcome with TEGs based on the spin Seebeck effect, where an additional degree of freedom - the spin of the electrons - results in a device architecture that scales with surface area (unlike conventional thermoelectrics), enables separation of the thermal and electric conductivities that drive the efficiency of the device and boasts active materials that could be sourced from abundant sources (such as iron or copper, rather than bismuth telluride).
The aim of this Fellowship is to investigate the spin Seebeck effect with regards to its application as a TEG. There are 5 key challenges that will be addressed:
(1) precise determination of the efficiency of such spin Seebeck based TEGs;
(2) discovery of new materials (from abundant sources);
(3) development of prototype TEGs;
(4) identifying the controlling factors with regards to the efficiency of the overall device; and
(5) understanding the underlying physics of this effect.
For example, harnessing the maximum spin polarised current generated by the spin Seebeck effect typically requires the use of expensive platinum contacts. For such technology to become economically viable would therefore require discovery of cheaper alternatives, such as the doped metals that will be investigated. In addition, precise characterisation of the spin Seebeck effect is limited by instrumentation that typically only monitors the temperature difference (rather than heat flow), hence instrumentation will be developed to monitor both these parameters so that the power conversion can be determined. There is also, as of yet, no comprehensive coefficient that can be used to compare different material systems (such as the Seebeck coefficient for conventional thermoelectrics), nor a rigorously tested figure of merit. Once this has been established, a comprehensive comparison of different materials and engineering of the overall device can be made.
Conventional TEGs are typically based on the Seebeck effect: a physical process that results in the generation of an electric current when a temperature difference exists between two ends of a material. One of the bottlenecks for improvement of the efficiency of these devices is the co-dependence of two key material properties: the thermal and electric conductivity. Whilst some progress has been made to circumvent this by nano-engineering, there is still some way to go before widespread commercialisation becomes viable. This could, however, be overcome with TEGs based on the spin Seebeck effect, where an additional degree of freedom - the spin of the electrons - results in a device architecture that scales with surface area (unlike conventional thermoelectrics), enables separation of the thermal and electric conductivities that drive the efficiency of the device and boasts active materials that could be sourced from abundant sources (such as iron or copper, rather than bismuth telluride).
The aim of this Fellowship is to investigate the spin Seebeck effect with regards to its application as a TEG. There are 5 key challenges that will be addressed:
(1) precise determination of the efficiency of such spin Seebeck based TEGs;
(2) discovery of new materials (from abundant sources);
(3) development of prototype TEGs;
(4) identifying the controlling factors with regards to the efficiency of the overall device; and
(5) understanding the underlying physics of this effect.
For example, harnessing the maximum spin polarised current generated by the spin Seebeck effect typically requires the use of expensive platinum contacts. For such technology to become economically viable would therefore require discovery of cheaper alternatives, such as the doped metals that will be investigated. In addition, precise characterisation of the spin Seebeck effect is limited by instrumentation that typically only monitors the temperature difference (rather than heat flow), hence instrumentation will be developed to monitor both these parameters so that the power conversion can be determined. There is also, as of yet, no comprehensive coefficient that can be used to compare different material systems (such as the Seebeck coefficient for conventional thermoelectrics), nor a rigorously tested figure of merit. Once this has been established, a comprehensive comparison of different materials and engineering of the overall device can be made.
Planned Impact
Thermoelectric effects can be used to convert low grade heat into electricity (and vice versa), however, their widespread application is currently limited by high production costs and low efficiencies. The work highlighted in this Fellowship is targeted at a new breed of thermoelectric generators - spin Seebeck TEGs - that could be used to break through the 'efficiency barrier' that limits conventional devices. This will involve discovery of new materials for the conversion of spin currents, development of instrumentation to accelerate the standardisation of measurements, development of prototype TEGs, and the engineering of such devices to optimise their efficiency.
In principle, development of this technology could be used to siphon electricity from energy that is stored as heat, either from a district heat network, or from waste sources such as engines or boilers. Not only will this complement current activities in securing a resilient energy portfolio (for the UK), but could result in the generation of income through industrial partnerships or spin-outs intended to capitalise on the intellectual property generated. This could therefore have a significant impact on society, the economy, and the computing industry, as outlined below.
1. Society and the public
An increase in efficiency of thermoelectric generators (TEGs) could have a significant impact on society over the next 10-50 years as they become more economically viable. For example, a reduction in energy usage is arguably one of the key societal challenges for the next century and over the next 5-20 years a reasonable improvement of the efficiency of a TEG from 7 to 20% could be expected as a result of this work. Given that up to 60% of the energy in fuel burnt (in car engines for example) is lost as waste heat, such an improvement, coupled with low cost implementation that is the focus of this work, could easily save >3% of the UK's annual energy usage.
Not only would TEGs be useful as energy harvesters, but they could also serve as vectors for energy storage as they allow for conversion of heat to electricity (and vice versa). Any technology that can utilise or direct heat in this way will contribute to the stability of the UK's energy portfolio and thus contribute to stable or reduced energy costs (in the long-term).
Delivering impact from this will require the development of prototype devices in order to demonstrate proof of concept, which will then be followed by discussion with potential industrial partners.
2. Emerging industries and the UK economy
Although TEGs are not a new concept they have been limited by material costs and relatively low efficiencies. Recent improvements in efficiency have required nano-engineering of the basic material that can be difficult to up-scale. Should a new device be developed that could be used to circumvent the problem of low efficiency and fabrication costs then it is highly likely that it will lead to a new (industrial) market. This could, for example, bring in new jobs for production and distribution of the TEGs, or income from patented technology.
3. The computing industry
For the last 40 years the miniaturisation of transistors in computers has closely followed Moore's law but as transistor density increases, the increasing power density leads to instability of the device (due to heat). Spintronics is one research field that aims to move beyond Moore with the manipulation of spin polarised currents and which will see impact from this work.
This will have both economic and technological impact on society as it will significantly reduce the heat barrier faced by downscaling components that is common to charge transport based devices. As a result this could lead to new technology and more efficient computing (technology exports and reduced energy costs). Due to high consumer demand it is realistic to expect commercialisation of this technology within the next 5-20 years.
In principle, development of this technology could be used to siphon electricity from energy that is stored as heat, either from a district heat network, or from waste sources such as engines or boilers. Not only will this complement current activities in securing a resilient energy portfolio (for the UK), but could result in the generation of income through industrial partnerships or spin-outs intended to capitalise on the intellectual property generated. This could therefore have a significant impact on society, the economy, and the computing industry, as outlined below.
1. Society and the public
An increase in efficiency of thermoelectric generators (TEGs) could have a significant impact on society over the next 10-50 years as they become more economically viable. For example, a reduction in energy usage is arguably one of the key societal challenges for the next century and over the next 5-20 years a reasonable improvement of the efficiency of a TEG from 7 to 20% could be expected as a result of this work. Given that up to 60% of the energy in fuel burnt (in car engines for example) is lost as waste heat, such an improvement, coupled with low cost implementation that is the focus of this work, could easily save >3% of the UK's annual energy usage.
Not only would TEGs be useful as energy harvesters, but they could also serve as vectors for energy storage as they allow for conversion of heat to electricity (and vice versa). Any technology that can utilise or direct heat in this way will contribute to the stability of the UK's energy portfolio and thus contribute to stable or reduced energy costs (in the long-term).
Delivering impact from this will require the development of prototype devices in order to demonstrate proof of concept, which will then be followed by discussion with potential industrial partners.
2. Emerging industries and the UK economy
Although TEGs are not a new concept they have been limited by material costs and relatively low efficiencies. Recent improvements in efficiency have required nano-engineering of the basic material that can be difficult to up-scale. Should a new device be developed that could be used to circumvent the problem of low efficiency and fabrication costs then it is highly likely that it will lead to a new (industrial) market. This could, for example, bring in new jobs for production and distribution of the TEGs, or income from patented technology.
3. The computing industry
For the last 40 years the miniaturisation of transistors in computers has closely followed Moore's law but as transistor density increases, the increasing power density leads to instability of the device (due to heat). Spintronics is one research field that aims to move beyond Moore with the manipulation of spin polarised currents and which will see impact from this work.
This will have both economic and technological impact on society as it will significantly reduce the heat barrier faced by downscaling components that is common to charge transport based devices. As a result this could lead to new technology and more efficient computing (technology exports and reduced energy costs). Due to high consumer demand it is realistic to expect commercialisation of this technology within the next 5-20 years.
Organisations
- Loughborough University (Fellow, Lead Research Organisation)
- DURHAM UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM (Collaboration)
- LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- Cardiff University (Collaboration)
- National Institute of Meteorological Research (INRIM) (Collaboration)
- Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) (Collaboration)
- University of York (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
Kelly Morrison (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
Awana G
(2020)
Magnetic and structural properties of CoFeB thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition
in Materials Research Express
Cox C
(2019)
Anomalous Nernst effect in Co 2 MnSi thin films
in Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics
Morrison K
(2017)
Scaling of the spin Seebeck effect in bulk and thin film
Morrison K
(2019)
Characterisation Methods in Solid State and Materials Science -
Morrison K
(2020)
Thermal Imaging of the Thomson Effect
in Physics
Siddique A
(2021)
Charge Transport through Functionalized Graphene Quantum Dots Embedded in a Polyaniline Matrix
in ACS Applied Electronic Materials
Tatnell D
(2017)
Co2MnSi:Pt multilayers for giant spin Seebeck devices
Venkat G
(2019)
Spin Seebeck effect in polycrystalline yttrium iron garnet pellets prepared by the solid-state method
in EPL (Europhysics Letters)
Venkat G
(2020)
Magnon diffusion lengths in bulk and thin film Fe 3 O 4 for spin Seebeck applications
in Physical Review Materials
Description | This award focussed on the measurement of the spin Seebeck effect, including potential efficiency of spin Seebeck based thermoelectric devices and standardisation of the measurement. The key results are summarised below: 1) Development of heat flux method for measurement of spin Seebeck effect. 2) Correlation of magnon diffusion length determined from inelastic neutron scattering with saturation length of spin Seebeck coefficient (i.e. optimum thickness of the ferrimagnetic layer in potential devices). 3) Development of in-situ polarised neutron reflectometry environment that minimised background contribution, but has not yet yielded statistically relevant observation of spin Seebeck effect. 4) Standardisation of spin Seebeck measurements including possible area scaling observed by heat flux method. 5) Measurement of the efficiency of spin Seebeck based devices. |
Exploitation Route | Measurement of spin Seebeck devices indicate significantly lower efficiency than conventional thermoelectrics. There is some potential to scale this with bulk composites or to couple with other magnetothermal effects (such as anomalous Nernst effect), however it requires knowledge of the relevant lengthscales to select optimum thickness of magnetic material (spin generator) to paramagnetic material (spin harvester). This work identified some of these key lengthscales for the Fe3O4/Pt bilayer and demonstrated direct measurement of the efficiency of spin Seebeck based devices. It also demonstrated enhancement of the device efficiency when nanoengineering at the interface, and with composite pellets. The sample environment developed for reflectometry may be used when available neutron flux is increased (such as with the planned ESS, Sweden) or if higher quality samples become available. It could be interesting to translate it to an x-ray beamline for resonant x-ray reflectometry. |
Sectors | Electronics Energy |
Description | Loughborough University EPSRC Capital Award for Core Equipment |
Amount | £200,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/T024704/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2020 |
End | 07/2021 |
Description | Rapid Prototyping of Novel Devices with In-situ Deposition, Imaging and Nanolithography |
Amount | £1,997,800 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/W006243/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2021 |
End | 02/2024 |
Description | Seeing magnons at spin-to-charge conversion interfaces |
Amount | £198,950 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/V048767/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2021 |
End | 06/2023 |
Description | Standard Research - NR1 |
Amount | £2,000,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/P030599/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2017 |
End | 03/2018 |
Title | Low T SSE |
Description | Development of low temperature measurement of the spin Seebeck effect using heat flux sensors. Publication being drafted. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | Improved accuracy of measurements. Will now be using this to study subtle changes in the spin Seebeck effect about phase transitions. |
Title | Enhancement of spin Seebeck effect in Fe3O4/Pt thin films with a-Fe nanodroplets - supporting data |
Description | Characterisation data for 80 nm Fe3O4: 5nm Pt samples deposited as a series such that plume texturing results in minor modification of film interface.Origin Project gives analysed data as presented in Figures 1-4.Zip folder includes neutron reflectivity fit outputs described in Figure 5.Raw data for Figure 5 at https://doi.org/10.5286/ISIS.E.RB2010586-1.Funding abstract:As part of the Energy Efficiency Directive, the UK has committed to a 20% increase in energy efficiency, a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20% and an increased share of renewable energy sources (compared to 1990 levels) by 2020. To address these challenges a stable and diverse range of energy sources will need to be developed and, unsurprisingly, this has been the focus of an intense international research effort. The associated research challenges can be loosely categorised into renewable sources (solar, wind, tidal), sustainable sources (e.g. carbon capture, fusion), and micro generation (e.g. energy harvesting from thermal, light, sound, or vibrational sources). One example of such sources is the harvesting of waste heat with thermoelectric generators (TEGs), a technology that has the advantage of reliability (no moving parts), but is limited by high costs (use of critical elements such as Te) and low efficiencies (<10% for a 200K temperature difference). Given the abundant sources of waste heat in everyday life (boilers, engines, computers, district heat networks), development of low-cost TEGs that could easily be applied to various surfaces could present a significant vector for change. For example, harvesting just 5% of the energy lost as waste heat by car engines in the UK would save the equivalent of 1 hundred thousand equivalent tonnes of oil per year (or ~1% of the UK's total energy usage in 2014). Conventional TEGs are typically based on the Seebeck effect: a physical process that results in the generation of an electric current when a temperature difference exists between two ends of a material. One of the bottlenecks for improvement of the efficiency of these devices is the co-dependence of two key material properties: the thermal and electric conductivity. Whilst some progress has been made to circumvent this by nano-engineering, there is still some way to go before widespread commercialisation becomes viable. This could, however, be overcome with TEGs based on the spin Seebeck effect, where an additional degree of freedom - the spin of the electrons - results in a device architecture that scales with surface area (unlike conventional thermoelectrics), enables separation of the thermal and electric conductivities that drive the efficiency of the device and boasts active materials that could be sourced from abundant sources (such as iron or copper, rather than bismuth telluride). The aim of this Fellowship is to investigate the spin Seebeck effect with regards to its application as a TEG. There are 5 key challenges that will be addressed: (1) precise determination of the efficiency of such spin Seebeck based TEGs; (2) discovery of new materials (from abundant sources); (3) development of prototype TEGs; (4) identifying the controlling factors with regards to the efficiency of the overall device; and (5) understanding the underlying physics of this effect. For example, harnessing the maximum spin polarised current generated by the spin Seebeck effect typically requires the use of expensive platinum contacts. For such technology to become economically viable would therefore require discovery of cheaper alternatives, such as the doped metals that will be investigated. In addition, precise characterisation of the spin Seebeck effect is limited by instrumentation that typically only monitors the temperature difference (rather than heat flow), hence instrumentation will be developed to monitor both these parameters so that the power conversion can be determined. There is also, as of yet, no comprehensive coefficient that can be used to compare different material systems (such as the Seebeck coefficient for conventional thermoelectrics), nor a rigorously tested figure of merit. Once this has been established, a comprehensive comparison of different materials and engineering of the overall device can be made. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/dataset/Enhancement_of_spin_Seebeck_effect_in_Fe3O4_Pt_thin_... |
Title | Optimisation of Co2MnSi thin films and ANE |
Description | Characterisation of Co2MnSi thin films and corresponding ANE measurements.
Origin dataset associated with article: Anomalous Nernst Effect in Co 2MnSi Thin Films AbstractSeparation of the anomalous Nernst and spin Seebeck voltages in bilayer devices is often problematic when both layers are metallic, and the anomalous Nernst effect becomes non-negligible. Co2MnSi, a strong candidate for the spin generator in spin Seebeck devices, is a predicted half-metal with 100% spin polarisation at the Fermi energy, however, typically B2 or L21 order is needed to achieve this. We demonstrate the optimisation of thin film growth of Co2MnSi on glass, where choice of deposition and annealing temperature can promote various ordered states. The contribution from the anomalous Nernst Effect (ANE) is then investigated to inform future measurements of the spin Seebeck. A maximum ANE coefficient of 0.662µV/K is found for an A2 disordered polycrystalline Co2MnSi film. This value is comparable to ordered Heusler thin films deposited on to single crystal substrates but obtained at a far lower fabrication temperature and material cost. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/dataset/Optimisation_of_Co2MnSi_thin_films_and_ANE/5117569 |
Title | Yttrium iron garnet (YIG) spin Seebeck effect (SSE) study |
Description | Magnetic and structural characterisation of YIG pellets prepared via solid state method where the YIG/YIP ratio varied.
Includes final figures for journal (origin project) as well as raw data in a zip file. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/dataset/Yttrium_iron_garnet_YIG_spin_Seebeck_effect_SSE_stud... |
Description | Development of temperature gradient FMR |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Department | ISIS Neutron and Muon Source |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Supplied samples and feedback/training for placement students at RAL for development of in-situ SSE/FMR measurements. |
Collaborator Contribution | Supplied Py and YIG thin film samples as well as YIG pellets. Regular meetings providing feedback. |
Impact | Improvement in measurement setup and baseline measurements of samples. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Epitaxial Fe3O4 films - sample exchange |
Organisation | University of York |
Department | Department of Physics |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Deposition of Pt on the films; accompanying characterisation (e.g. XRR) and spin Seebeck measurements. |
Collaborator Contribution | Provided high quality Fe3O4 thin films deposited on SrTiO3 and MgO for comparison with films deposited on glass. |
Impact | None yet |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Fabrication of SSE devices |
Organisation | Cardiff University |
Department | School of Physics and Astronomy |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Deposited the base films for device preparation. Were also trained to use the cleanroom. |
Collaborator Contribution | Transfer of expertise with regards to device fabrication (e-beam and photolithography). |
Impact | First devices February 2018 |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Investigating Effect of Interface on Spin Injection |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Department | ISIS Neutron and Muon Source |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Samples |
Collaborator Contribution | Characterisation: Off specular x-ray reflectivity measurements and grazing incidence x-ray diffraction. |
Impact | Beamtime awarded. Still early measurements. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Sample exchange |
Organisation | National Institute of Meteorological Research (INRIM) |
Country | Italy |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Samples provided to INRIM for analysis. Deposition of Pt on bulk YIG for spin Peltier measurements. |
Collaborator Contribution | Calibration measurements of new measurement system. Expertise. |
Impact | Initial data obtained. Too early to list other outcomes. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Sample exchange 2 |
Organisation | University of York |
Department | Department of Physics |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Samples provided for scanning thermal microscopy. |
Collaborator Contribution | Measurements. |
Impact | Still early. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Sample exchange 3 |
Organisation | Durham University |
Department | Department of Physics |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Spin Seebeck Measurements |
Collaborator Contribution | CFB:Pt, W, Ta samples provided for characterisation of SSE. This has been followed up by a series of Co_xFe_yB_z films with and without Pt for further measurement. |
Impact | Initial measurements indicated very low signal, which is not unexpected due to the thermal conductivity of the magnetic layer. Follow up measurements are to build a comparative study. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Single crystal INS |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Department | ISIS Neutron and Muon Source |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Samples provided and manpower for experiment. Will also be performing the corresponding SSE measurements on the single crystal. |
Collaborator Contribution | Development of proposal for time on IN8 at ILL in Grenoble. Expertise with regards to crystal characterisation, alignment and inelastic measurements of. This has been followed up by INS on MAPS at ISIS (October 2018). The data is currently being analysed b postdoc G. Venkat. |
Impact | Highly rated proposal - Awarded 7 days on IN8. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Strain measurements |
Organisation | University of Nottingham |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Postdoc time allocated for preparation of samples. |
Collaborator Contribution | Unique measurement capability - exploring potential for new measurement of spin Seebeck effect. |
Impact | None yet |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | TEM analysis |
Organisation | Loughborough University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Supply of samples. |
Collaborator Contribution | TEM analysis of samples |
Impact | In the process of submitting paper. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Academic Enrichment - Loughborough College |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Presentation of research interests to general audience (secondary school level). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Athena STEM automatic watering arduino project |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | 'Building an automated watering system' - demonstrate use of renewables and Arduino for sustainable engineering. Part of a series of online videos to replace usual in person workshop during COVID restrictions. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/athena-island/ |
Description | British Science festival, Leicester - Life through a lens |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Development of public engagement activities to demonstrate various aspects of research that relate to imaging: pinhole camera, infrared, lithography, and moire effect. This event was a dry run with the activities, which were signposted on website created for the activities. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/life-through-lens/ |
Description | Community day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | During British Science Week the campus is open on the weekend and the local community is invited to interact with various aspects of science and engineering. The primary aim is to inspire children to learn more about STEM, but it also provides the opportunity to communicate the main aims of local research to the community. Typically, ~1000 attendees. I participated by designing and running several tables/events over the years. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019 |
URL | https://kmphysics.com/2019/03/10/stem-community-day-at-loughborough-16th-march-2019/ |
Description | Energy Harvesting SIG |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Launch event for the energy harvesting special interest group of the KTN |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Ford Fund Girls into STEM - Wind power Workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | 2 hour workshop as part of a residential course. Girls were given consumables to build a homopolar motor, and a wind turbine in order to explore how motors/turbines work and how this can be employed to harvest energy. This was part of a residential course where they were exploring the idea of building a sustainable island. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019 |
Description | I'm a Physicist Badge |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Working with the East Midlands IoP committee to develop a new badge for Girl Guides/Brownies/Rainbows: "I'm a Physicist". There are several planned activities to launch the badge, one of which was engaging with the #Iamaphysicist (hashtag) on Twitter. There have since been international requests (e.g. Denmark, Canada) from groups & individuals who saw the badge advertised and wanted to try it. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019 |
URL | https://www.iop.org/girlguiding-i-am-physicist-challenge |
Description | Inspiring minds: Seeing the Invisible |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Use of thermal cameras to explore idea of infra red detectors, blackbody radiation and emissivity. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Nuffield student |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | 2019: Hosted Nuffield work experience student for 4 weeks. She went on to present research at Nuffield poster presentation and to enter it into the Big Bang Fair competition. 2020: Remotely supervised two Nuffield students for 4 weeks. Working with Arduino units for sensing local variables (temperature/sound). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
Description | Participation in 'Meet a Physicist' online event aligned with IoP Brownie Badge |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
Results and Impact | Discussed experience of getting into Physics, what it means on a day to day basis and what my research interests are with another Physicist from Nottingham University and member of the Sherwood Observatory (who gave a virtual tour of the facility). Answered questions from brownies/guides (via online chat function). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Science in the Park (Wollaton Hall) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Exhibitor at the annual science fair as part of British Science Week. Provided: 1) Equipment for constructing and launching rockets. 2) Equipment for light painting activity. Brought 10 undergraduate volunteers from Loughborough University to help run the activities. Engaged with the guide groups working on the 'I'm a physicist' badge developed with the East Midlands Branch of the IoP. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://kmphysics.com/2019/03/09/science-in-the-park-2019-light-painting/ |
Description | Science in the Park - Wollaton Hall - Life through a lens activities |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Delivered pinhole camera, moire kaleidoscope and colour in lithography activities as part of Science in the Park at Wollaton Hall, Nottingham |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://wollatonhall.org.uk/science-in-the-park/ |
Description | Spintronics workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Hosted a workshop on the Future of Spintronics, with invited speakers encompassing the broad topics (magnonics, superconducting spintronics, Lorentz TEM etc) from across the UK. Over 35 delegates attended the event, which provided a general overview of the topic followed by specific examples of research in the UK. The workshop initiated several discussions among delegates of potential avenues for research and collaboration - most notably engaging with early career researchers in the Department. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://ukmagsoc.org/events/future-of-spintronics/ |