Metallic alloy

Advanced Materials and Acoustics

Design, characterisation, synthesis and manufacturing of advanced structural and functional materials, including metallic alloys, composites, metallic glasses, hybrid materials, biomedical materials as well as sound attenuation materials.

Development of novel ultrasound and magnetic field based material manufacturing technologies and the relevant devices.

In-situ studies of materials structure evolution in three-dimensional and four-dimensional space using electron microscopy, synchrotron X-ray and neutron based imaging, diffraction and spectroscopic techniques.

Modelling and simulation of materials structure evolution in mesoscale using phase field model as well as processing simulation and optimisation using finite element method.

Modelling and experimental investigation of sound propagation and attenuation theories in different media and devices for noise controls.

Professor Jiawei Mi
Science and Engineering
Professor Jiawei Mi
Group Leader
+44 (0)1482 465670
J.Mi@hull.ac.uk
Profile

The Challenge

Our research aims to:

  • Discover the new physics and improve the basic understanding on the synthesis and manufacturing of advanced materials in highly dynamic and non-equilibrium conditions.
  • Design and develop new structural and functional materials with step changes in properties and functionalities for the 21st century modern society.
  • Develop green and sustainable materials manufacturing technologies for the transport, energy and aerospace industry in the UK and beyond.

The Approach

We undertake research from fundamental concepts through the commercial exploitation using a wide range of experimental and modelling techniques. We work with academic and industry collaborators in the UK and worldwide to bring together teams with world leading expertise in their respective fields to tackle these challenges.

Impact

By designing and developing new materials and sustainable materials manufacturing technologies, we are able to provide the society and industry with new materials that have minimum negative impact to the environment.

For example, ultra-recyclable metal based alloys and the relevant manufacturing techniques; responsive programmable materials and the relevant photonic devices for highly efficient energy harvesting; new sound attenuation device for 50% increase in the burning efficiency and life span of gas turbine combustion chamber, etc

 

research

OUR AIMS

  • Design and develop new advanced structural and functional materials, including metallic alloys, composites, metallic glasses, hybrid materials, biomedical materials as well as sound attenuation materials.
  • Development of novel ultrasound and magnetic field based material manufacturing technologies for ultra-recyclable Al based alloys and 2D functional materials.
  • In-situ studies of materials structure evolution in three-dimensional and four-dimensional space using electron microscopy, synchrotron X-ray and neutron based imaging, diffraction and spectroscopic techniques.
  • Modelling and simulation of materials structure evolution in mesoscale using phase field model and processing simulation and optimisation using finite element method.
  • Modelling and experimental investigation of sound propagation and attenuation theories in different media and devices for noise controls.

Projects

View all projects
  • The EPSRC (07/2018 – 07/2022) - Sustainable and industrially scalable ultrasonic liquid phase exfoliation technologies for manufacturing 2D advanced functional materials (EP/R031819/1, EP/R031665/1, EP/R031975/1, EP/R031401/1).
  • Saudi Arabia government (10/2016 - 07/2021) - Development of Mg based alloys for biocompatible and biodegradable applications.
  • Diamond Light Source (10/2015 - 05/2020)- Modelling and experimental studies of novel magnetic field processing of metal alloys.
  • The EPSRC (09/2014 - 12/2017) - Development of efficient and scalable ultrasound-assisted solidification technologies for manufacturing advanced metallic alloys (EPSRC, EP/L019965/1, EP/L019884/1, EP/L019825/1).
  • EPSRC (10/2015 - 09/2016): Ultrasound-enhanced catalytic esterification of pyrolysis bio-oil.
  • The Royal Society Industry Fellowship (02/2012 - 02/2016)- Development of novel external field solidification technologies for Ni Superalloys.
  • Ministry of Science and Technology of China (06/2012 - 05/2015) - The atomisation and spray deposition of novel Ni-based superalloys (A major UK-China collaborative research).
  • Baosteel Co. Ltd (01/05/2012 -30/09/2015) - Development of high performance products comprising dissimilar materials by spray deposition (funded by, the largest steel company in China).
  • The Thai Government sponsored PhD Studentship (10/2010 - 04/2015) - Solidification of metal alloys in pulse electromagnetic fields.
  • EPSRC (06/2014 - 12/2014): Studies of nucleation controlled carbide morphology during the solidification of cast Ni superalloys.
  • The Royal Society Newton International Fellowship (03/2012 - 03/2014) - Synthesis and in-situ study of the deformation mechanism of ductile Ti-based bulk metallic glasses.
  • The Royal Academy of Engineering (04/2012 - 12/2013) - research exchange with China award.
  • The EPSRC and Siemens UK (2016 – 2021) - Acoustic investigation of perforated liners in gas turbine combustors
  • Siemens Energy Orlando, USA (2015 – 2017) - Optimisation of resonant devices for attenuation of gas turbine combustor noise
  • Sole CI, “Filling all in one fibre: upconversion luminescence leverages a multifunctional optical fibre”, Humboldt Research Fellowship 2018-2019, ~£85, 000
  • Equally lead CI, “GLAS technology to endorse a library of colour codes in glass”, Commercial Accelerator Scheme (CAS) by Adelaide Enterprise at University of Adelaide, ~£30,000.
  • Lead CI, “Investigation into the Structural Capacity of Optical Glass with Application to Sustainable Façade Design and Building Technology”, Beacon: Interdisciplinary Research Fund 2016 at University of Adelaide, ~£12, 000
  • 2nd CI, “A turn-on fluorescent fibre probe for background-free detection of heavy metal ions in water”, IPAS Pilot Projects 2016, ~£10,000
  • Lead CI, “Fibre insight in diabetes treatment: a new photonic fibre device to investigate the enteroendocrine L-cell”, Beacon: Interdisciplinary Research Fund 2015 at University of Adelaide, ~£12, 000
  • Lead CI, “Incorporating Pd nanoparticles into fibre for plasmon-enhanced UV-blue photonic devices”, Group of Eight Australia – Germany Joint Research Co-operation Scheme (Go8-DAAD), 2015-2016, ~£11, 000

Funders and collaborators

Funders: EPSRC, STFC, Innovate UK, The Royal Society, The Royal Academy of Engineering; China Scholarship Council, Ministry of Science and Technology China; EU, Siemens UK,

Collaborators: Universities: Oxford, Cambridge, Sheffield, Manchester, Cranfield, Brunel, Birmingham, Oxford Brooks, Diamond Light Source, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, The Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, The Swiss Light Source, The European X-Ray Free-Electron Laser Facility, BESSY II.     

Members

Prof Jiawei Mi

Professor of Materials

 

+44 (0)1482 465670

Dr Kevin Fancey

Senior Lecturer

 

+44 (0)1482 465071

Dr Qin Qin

Lecturer in Acoustics

 

+44 (0)1482 466448

Dr Tim Zhao

 

 
Outputs and publications
  • Wang, J., Rubini, P., Qin, Q., & Houston, B. (2019). A model to predict acoustic resonant frequencies of distributed Helmholtz resonators on gas turbine engines. Applied Sciences, 9(7), 1419. https://doi.org/10.3390/app9071419
  • Wang, J., Rubini, P., & Qin, Q. (2017). Application of a porous media model for the acoustic damping of perforated plate absorbers. Applied acoustics. Acoustique appliqué. Angewandte Akustik, 127, 324-335. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apacoust.2017.07.003

  • M., Austin, Z., Chalk, B., Mehl, G. H., Qin, Q., Rubini, P. A., …Paunov, V. N. (2015). Sound absorption of porous cement composites: effects of the porosity and the pore size. Journal of materials science, 50(9), 3495-3503. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-015-8912-5

  • Zhang, Z., Khong, J. C., Koe, B., Luo, S., Huang, S., Qin, L., …Mi, J. (2021). Multiscale characterization of the 3D network structure of metal carbides in a Ni superalloy by synchrotron X-ray microtomography and ptychography. Scripta materialia,

  • Wang, B., Seffen, K. A., Guest, S. D., Lee, T., Huang, S., Luo, S., & Mi, J. (2020). In-situ multiscale shear failure of a bistable composite tape-spring. Composites Science and Technology,

  • Tyurnina, A. V., Tzanakis, I., Morton, J., Mi, J., Porfyrakis, K., Maciejewska, B., …Eskin, D. G. (2020). Ultrasonic exfoliation of graphene in water: A key parameter study. Carbon,

  • Wang, B., Zhong, S., Lee, T., Fancey, K., & Mi, J. (2020). Non-destructive testing and evaluation of composite materials/structures: A state-of-the-art review. Advances in Mechanical Engineering,

  • Koe, B., Abraham, C., Bailey, C., Greening, B., Small, M., Connolley, T., & Mi, J. (2020). A novel electromagnetic apparatus for in-situ synchrotron X-ray imaging study of the separation of phases in metal solidification. HardwareX,

  • Eskin, D., Tzanakis, I., Wang, F., Lebon, G., Subroto, T., Pericleous, K., & Mi, J. (2019). Fundamental studies of ultrasonic melt processing. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry,

  • Wang, S., Kang, J., Guo, Z., Lee, T., Zhang, X., Wang, Q., …Mi, J. (2018). In situ high speed imaging study and modelling of the fatigue fragmentation of dendritic structures in ultrasonic fields. Acta Materialia,

  • Lee, T., Mi, J., Ren, S., Zhao, S., Fan, J., Kabra, S., …Grant, P. (2018). Modelling and neutron diffraction characterization of the interfacial bonding of spray formed dissimilar steels. Acta Materialia,

  • Schlepütz, C. M., Zhao, Y., Du, W., Koe, B., Connolley, T., Irvine, S., …Mi, J. (2018). 3D characterisation of the Fe-rich intermetallic phases in recycled Al alloys by synchrotron X-ray microtomography and skeletonisation. Scripta materialia,

  • Wang, B., Tan, D., Lee, T. L., Khong, J. C., Wang, F., Eskin, D., …Mi, J. (2018). Ultrafast synchrotron X-ray imaging studies of microstructure fragmentation in solidification under ultrasound. Acta Materialia,

  • Mi, J. (2018). D. G. Eskin, & J. Mi (Eds.), Solidification Processing of Metallic Alloys Under External Fields

  • Wang, F., Eskin, D., Mi, J., Wang, C., Koe, B., King, A., …Connolley, T. (2017). A synchrotron X-radiography study of the fragmentation and refinement of primary intermetallic particles in an Al-35 Cu alloy induced by ultrasonic melt processing. Acta Materialia,

  • Wang, F., Tzanakis, I., Eskin, D., Mi, J., & Connolley, T. (2017). In situ observation of ultrasonic cavitation-induced fragmentation of the primary crystals formed in Al alloys. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry,

  • Wang, F., Eskin, D. G., Khvan, A. V., Starodub, K. F., Lim, J. J., Burke, M. G., …Mi, J. (2017). On the occurrence of a eutectic-type structure in solidification of Al-Zr alloys. Scripta materialia,

  • Li, Z., Grant, P. S., Zheng, L., Lee, T. L., Liu, N., Liu, Z., …Grant, P. (2017). Numerical and physical simulation of rapid microstructural evolution of gas atomised Ni superalloy powders. Materials & design,

  • Khong, J. C., Daisenberger, D., Burca, G., Kockelmann, W., Tremsin, A. S., & Mi, J. (2016). Design and characterisation of metallic glassy alloys of high neutron shielding capability. Scientific reports,

  • Wang, F., Eskin, D., Mi, J., Connolley, T., Lindsay, J., & Mounib, M. (2016). A refining mechanism of primary Al3Ti intermetallic particles by ultrasonic treatment in the liquid state. Acta Materialia,

  • Zhang, W., Bodey, A. J., Sui, T., Kockelmann, W., Rau, C., Korsunsky, A. M., & Mi, J. (2016). Multi-scale characterisation of the 3D microstructure of a thermally-shocked bulk metallic glass matrix composite. Scientific reports,

  • Manuwong, T., Zhang, W., Kazinczi, P. L., Bodey, A. J., Rau, C., & Mi, J. (2015). Solidification of Al alloys under electromagnetic pulses and characterization of the 3D microstructures under synchrotron x-ray tomography. Metallurgical and materials transactions. A, Physical metallurgy and materials science,

  • Tan, D., Lee, T. L., Khong, J. C., Connolley, T., Fezzaa, K., & Mi, J. (2015). High speed synchrotron X-ray imaging studies of the ultrasound shockwave and enhanced flow during metal solidification processes. Metallurgical and materials transactions. A, Physical metallurgy and materials science,

  • Lee, T. L., Mi, J., Zhao, S. L., Fan, J. F., Zhang, S. Y., Kabra, S., & Grant, P. S. (2015). Characterization of the residual stresses in spray-formed steels using neutron diffraction. Scripta materialia,

  • Huang, Y., Fan, H., Wang, D., Sun, Y., Liu, F., Shen, J., …Mi, J. (2015). Corrigendum to "The effect of cooling rate on the wear performance of a ZrCuAlAg bulk metallic glass" [Mater. Des. 58, (2014), 284-289]. Materials and Design,
  • Huang, Y., Khong, J. C., Connolley, T., & Mi, J. (2015). Erratum: The onset of plasticity of a Zr-based bulk metallic glass (International Journal of Plasticity (2014) 60 (87-100)). International Journal of Plasticity,

  • Zheng, L., Zhang, G., Xiao, C., Lee, T. L., Han, B., Li, Z., …Mi, J. (2014). The interdendritic-melt solidification control (IMSC) and its effects on the porosity and phase change of a Ni-based superalloy. Scripta materialia,

  • Huang, Y., Khong, J. C., Connolley, T., & Mi, J. (2014). Understanding the deformation mechanism of individual phases of a ZrTi-based bulk metallic glass matrix composite using in situ diffraction and imaging methods. Applied physics letters,

  • Guo, Z., Mi, J., Xiong, S., & Grant, P. (2014). Phase field study of the tip operating state of a freely growing dendrite against convection using a novel parallel multigrid approach. Journal of Computational Physics,

  • Huang, Y., Zheng, W., Fan, H., Wang, D., Shen, J., & Mi, J. (2013). The effects of annealing on the microstructure and the dynamic mechanical strength of a ZrCuNiAl bulk metallic glass. Intermetallics,

  • Huang, Y. J., Khong, J. C., Connolley, T., & Mi, J. (2013). In situ study of the evolution of atomic strain of bulk metallic glass and its effects on shear band formation. Scripta materialia,

  • Shu, D., Sun, B., Mi, J., & Grant, P. S. (2012). A high-speed imaging and modeling study of dendrite fragmentation caused by ultrasonic cavitation. Metallurgical and materials transactions. A, Physical metallurgy and materials science,

  • Guo, Z., Mi, J., & Grant, P. S. (2012). An implicit parallel multigrid computing scheme to solve coupled thermal-solute phase-field equations for dendrite evolution. Journal of Computational Physics,

  • Shu, D., Sun, B., Mi, J., & Grant, P. S. (2011). A quantitative study of solute diffusion field effects on heterogeneous nucleation and the grain size of alloys. Acta Materialia,

  • Mi, J., & Grant, P. S. (2008). Modelling the shape and thermal dynamics of Ni superalloy rings during spray forming Part 1: Shape modelling - Droplet deposition, splashing and redeposition. Acta Materialia,

  • Mi, J., & Grant, P. S. (2008). Modelling the shape and thermal dynamics of Ni superalloy rings during spray forming. Part 2 : Thermal modelling - Heat flow and solidification. Acta Materialia,

  • Mi, J., Grant, P., Fritsching, U., Belkessam, O., Garmendia, I., & Landaberea, A. (2008). Multiphysics modelling of the spray forming process. Materials Science and Engineering: A,

 

Ten Career-Best Research Outputs

  1. J Zhao, D Jin*, E Schartner, Y Lu, Y Liu, A V. Zvyagin, L Zhang, J M. Dawes, P Xi, J A. Piper, E M. Goldys and T M. Monro, ‘Single-nanocrystal sensitivity achieved by enhanced upconversion luminescence’, Nature Nanotechnology, 2013, 8, 729-734. (IF=38.986, citations 479, ESI Highly Cited Paper, https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2013.171)

  2. J Zhao, Z Lu, Y Yin, C McRae, J A. Piper, J M. Dawes, D Jin* and E M. Goldys*, ‘Upconversion luminescence with tunable lifetime in NaYF4:Yb,Er nanocrystals: role of nanocrystal size’, NanoScale, 2013, 5, 944-952. (Front Cover, IF=6.97, citations 274, ESI Highly Cited Paper, https://doi.org/10.1039/C2NR32482B)

  3. J Zhao*, C Qi, G Li and M A. Schmidt, ‘An improved spectrophotometry tests the Einstein-Smoluchowski equation: a revisit and update’, Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020, 22, 21784-21792. (IF=3.430, https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CP03392H)

  4. Y Lu, J Zhao, R Zhang, Y Liu, D Liu, E M. Goldys, X Yang, P Xi, A Sunna, J Lu, Y Shi, R C. Leif, Y Huo, J Shen, J A. Piper, J P. Robinson and D Jin*, ‘Tunable lifetime multiplexing using luminescent nanocrystals’, Nature Photonics, 2014, 8, 32-36. (IF=37.852, citations 524, ESI Highly Cited Paper, https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2013.322)

  5. Y Liu, Y Lu*, X Yang, X Zheng, S Wen, F Wang, X Vidal, J Zhao, D Liu, Z Zhou, C Ma, J Zhou, J A. Piper, P Xi* and D Jin*, ‘Amplified stimulated emission in upconversion nanoparticles for super-resolution nanoscopy’, Nature, 2017, 543, 7644, 229-233. (IF=43.07, citations 374, ESI Hot Papers, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature21366)

  6. X Pan, J Zhao*, G Qian, X Zhang, Y Ruan, A Abell and H Ebendorff-Heidepriem, ‘Mechanistic insight into the non-hydrolytic sol-gel process of tellurite glass films to attain a high transmission’, RSC Advances, 2020, 10 (4), 2404-2415. (IF=3.049, citation 1, 1039/C9RA10731B)

  7. J Zhao*, X Zheng, E Schartner, P Ionescu, R Zhang, T Nguyen, D Jinand H Ebendorff-Heidepriem*, ‘Upconversion Nanocrystal-Doped Glass: A New Paradigm for Photonic Materials’, Opt. Mater., 2016, 1507-1517. (Front Cover, IF=7.125, citations 53, 10.1002/adom.201600296)

  8. W Huang, T Wu*, A Shallan, R Kosteki, C K. Rayner, C Priest, H Ebendorff-Heidepriem and J Zhao*, ‘A Multiplexed Microfluidic Platform toward Interrogating Endocrine Function: Simultaneous Sensing of Extracellular Ca2+ and Hormone’, ACS sensor, 2020, 5 (2), 490-499. (IF= 944, https://doi.org/10.1021/acssensors.9b02308)

  9. Y Wei, H Ebendorff-Heidepriem*, J Zhao*, ‘Recent Advances in Hybrid Optical Materials: Integrating Nanoparticles within a Glass Matrix’, Opt. Mater., 2019, 1900702. (IF=7.125, citations 22, 10.1002/adom.201900702)

  10. Y Lu, J Lu, J Zhao, J Cusido, F M. Raymo, J Yuan, S Yang, R C. Leif, Y Huo, J A. Piper, J P. Robinson, E M. Goldys and D Jin*, ‘On-the-fly decoding luminescence lifetimes in the microsecond region for lanthanide-encoded suspension arrays’, Nature Communications, 2014, 5, 3741. (IF=11.88, citations 113, https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms4741)
Research Students

Weikun Huang

Human gut-pancreas chip - a novel in vitro model for diabetes study

Drs Wu and Zhao, Profs Ebendorff-Heidepriem and Rayner

Xuanzhao Pan

Optical and impedance spectroscopy studies of tellurite glasses

Prof Ebendorff-Heidepriem, Drs Zhao and Poletto Rodrigues

Mengke Han

Neuronal function studies in behaving organisms via microelectrophoresis-delivered quantum dots

Prof Ebendorff-Heidepriem, A/Prof Wiederman, Dr Zhao

Marina Aburas

Smart building façades using nanoparticle thermochromic technology: From fabrication to implementation

A Jointly-awarded Degree Agreement with the University of Nottingham (5 supervisors in total)

Yunle Wei

Noble metal nanoparticles in glass: A universal pathway towards light modulation

Prof Ebendorff-Heidepriem and Dr Zhao


completed phds

Wei Zhang, PhD Thesis “Study of the multi-length scale structures of metallic glasses using synchrotron X-rays and phase-field crystal modelling” sponsored by CSC-UoH Scholarship (2016)

Tung Lik Lee, PhD thesis “Modelling and experimental study of the spray forming of dissimilar materials” Hull University International Scholarship (2016). Now, instrument scientist at Engin-X, ISIS Neutron Source, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Oxford, Didcot, UK

Dongyue Tan, PhD thesis “In situ ultrafast synchrotron X-ray imaging studies of the dynamics of ultrasonic bubbles in liquids”, CSC-UoH Scholarship (2015).

Theerapatt Manuwong, PhD thesis “Solidification of metal alloys in pulse electromagnetic fields”, Thai Government Scholarship

Jia Chun Khong, PhD thesis “In-situ imaging and diffraction studies of the deformation of metallic glasses and composites”, Hull University International Scholarship (2015). Now, postdoc at Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, UK

Tianen Yang, Novel processing of cermet materials, CSC-UoH Scholarship. Now, lecturer at Sichuan University.

Wenjia Du, PhD thesis “In-situ Synchrotron X-ray studies of the solidification processes under pulse magnetic field”

Billy Koe, PhD thesis “Modelling and experimental studies of novel melt-processing methods for recycled Al alloys”

Abdulrahman Sumayli, Development of Mg based metallic alloys for biocompatible and biodegradable applications –

Chun Zhang,In-situ studies the micromechanics of metallic glasses –

Yuliang Zhao, X-ray tomography studies of the intermetallic phases in Al alloys

Abdullah Shahjalal – Acoustic investigation of perforated liners in gas turbine combustors – Qin Qin

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