Dr Jason Stafford, University of Birmingham

Dr. Jason Stafford investigates sustainability challenges that cross the interface between thermofluids and materials science. The aim of his research is to create solutions that address key challenges in manufacturing advanced materials, environmental remediation, and thermal energy. Two-dimensional materials are an example of advanced materials that have the potential to transform future technologies from flexible electronics to energy storage and generation.

Unlocking this potential necessitates process scale-up from the laboratory, a non-trivial task which lacks rigorous frameworks for precise optimisation. Mechanochemical processes – using mechanical force to create materials – is a promising route for large-scale manufacturing without using harmful chemicals. These processes are not well understood, however, and issues such as product variability and quality control limit their uptake at industrial scales. Dr. Stafford will develop techniques and metrology solutions that reveal new insights on mechanochemical processes such as liquid-phase exfoliation, facilitating both the intensification of sustainable manufacturing and materials-by-design.