STFC and NPL collaboration on advanced materials research

Our understanding of advanced materials and how they perform under different conditions will be enhanced thanks to a new research collaboration announced between the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and the UK’s National Physical Laboratory (NPL).

NPL have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with STFC to work with the Oxfordshire based ISIS facility, the UK’s pulsed neutron and muon source, to both increase collaboration between the two organisations and jointly develop innovative capabilities to enhance our understanding of advanced materials particularly multi-ferroics, and how they perform under different conditions. Long term the research findings from the collaboration should be of real benefit to UK industry in the fields of micro-electronics with the aim of making computers (including mobile devices) smaller and faster while using less power.

Professor Sean Langridge, ISIS Division Head at STFC, said, “I’m delighted that the signing of this agreement will strengthen the relationship between STFC and NPL. Not only will this advance our atomic scale knowledge of technologically relevant materials, it will capitalise on the expertise of both ISIS and NPL scientists and help us build new capabilities for our user community.”

Dr Brian Bowsher, NPL’s Managing Director also welcomed this agreement. “ISIS is recognised as the leading short pulse spallation facility in the world and will be critical for the future development of neutron science in Europe over the next two decades. NPL has also been looking at the metrology requirements over this timescale in its “Metrology for the 2020s” strategy. We see exciting opportunities to work with ISIS, notably in materials science – particularly for electronic and functional materials. This collaboration is a great example of two internationally-leading government laboratories working together for maximum benefit: this collaboration should enhance the outputs of our National Measurement System programmes and generate greater impact for both STFC and NPL.”