The physical response of materials to pressure. I have a specific interest in the nano-mechanical response of a range of brittle materials including semiconductors, glasses and bio-materials.
My expertise concerns the nanoindentation of semiconductor materials, especially silicon, germanium and carbon, that undergo an array of phase transformations during mechanical deformation.This behaviour is currently being explored to investigate the feasibility of creating a variety of novel materials and devices.
A second major research area concerns the mechanical properties and response to pressure of bio-materials such as the bio-mechanical responses of plant cells and micro-marine creatures affected by ocean acidification.
Key interests include:
Nano-mechanical properties measured via depth-sensing nanoindentation
High pressure physics and new phase synthesis
Deformation processes of materials including biomaterials
Diamond
