University of Bolton|

Staff Profiles

 

Professor Guosheng Shao (Director of IREET):

E-mail:  G.Shao@bolton.ac.uk  |;  Tel: +44 (0)1204 903592

Address: Institute for Renewable Energy and Environmental Technologies, University of Bolton, Deane Road, Bolton, BL3 5AB, U.K.

Professor Guosheng Shao started his academic career at the Zhengzhou University of Technology in 1981, as an Assistant Lecturer and then a Lecturer in metallurgy. In 1991, he came to the University of Surrey as a visiting scientist. He earned his PhD in materials science at Surrey in 1995 and thereupon worked as a research associate and then research fellow (1999) and senior research fellow (2001), until transferring to the Brunel University as Reader in Materials in 2005. He joined the University of Bolton as professor of materials modelling and simulation in 2007.

Current research interests:

  • Multi-scale modelling materials and device modelling
  • Designer materials for renewable energy harvest
  • Sustainable renewable energy systems 
  • High resolution analytical electron microscopy
  • Glassy materials

Selected recent publications:

  • G Shao, "Red shift in Mn- and Fe-doped TiO2: a DFT+U analysis", Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 113 (6): 6800-6808 (2009).
  • G Shao, "Electronic structures of manganese-doped rutile TiO2 from first principles", Journal of Physical chemistry C, 112:  18677-18685 (2008).
  • G Shao, "Prediction of structural stabilities of transition-metal disilicide alloys by the density functional theory", Acta Materialia, 53: 3729-3736 (2005). 
  • G. Shao, "Thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of intermetallic amorphous alloys", Intermetallics, 11(4): 313-324 (April 2003).
  • G Shao, "Diffraction from long-period out-of-phase superstructures", Intermetallics, 10 (5), 493 - 496 (2002).
  • N. Peng, G. Shao, C. Jeynes, and R.P. Webb, R.M. Gwilliam, G Boudreault, D.M. Astill, W.Y. Liang, "Ion beam synthesis of superconducting MgB2 thin films", Applied Physics Letters, 82 (2): 236-238 JAN 13 2003.  
  • M. Milosavljevic, G. Shao, H. Bibic, C.N. McKinty and K.P. Homewood, "Amorphous iron disilicide: a promising            semiconductor", Applied Physics Letters, 79 (10): 1438-1440 (2001).
  • Wai Lek Ng, M.A. Lourenco, R.M. Gwilliam, S. Ledain, G. Shao and K.P. Homewood, "An effective room temperature silicon-based light-emitting diode", Nature, 410: 192-194 (2001).
  • G Shao, "Prediction of amorphous phase stability in metallic alloys", Journal of Applied  Physics, 88(7): 4443-4445 (2000). 

Professor Jack Luo

Contact information
E-mail: J.Luo@bolton.ac.uk| ; Tel: +44 (0)1204 903523

Address: Institute for Renewable Energy and Environmental Technologies, University of Bolton, Deane Road, Bolton, BL3 5AB, U.K.

Jack Luo received his PhD degree from the University of Hokkaido, Eng. Faculty, Japan in 1989 on "Preparation and Electrical Characterization of InGaAs and InP Field Effect Transistor Structures". He worked as a process engineer (1990) at Hoxan Co. Sapporo, Japan, to develop high efficiency crystalline silicon solar cells. He then be a research associate (1990) and senior research (1993) fellow at Cardiff University, U.K, working on III-V compound semiconductor devices. From 1995 to 2002, he worked in industry as an Engineer, Senior Engineer and Manager at Newport Wafer Fab. Philips Semiconductor Co. and Cavendish Kinetics Ltd respectively, developing products and process. In 2002, he re-joined academe, and was a Senior Research Associate in Cambridge University Engineering Department| with responsibility for MEMS activities. From January 2007, he became a professor in MEMS, University of Bolton.

Current research interests:

  • Microsystems technology & Reliability
  • Microfluidics (micropumps and micromixers)
  • Biochemical sensors
  • Smart materials (Piezoelectric ceramics and shape memory alloy & polymers)

Selected recent publications:

  • J.K.Luo, A.Flewitt, S.M.Spearing, N.A.Fleck and W.I.Milne, "Novel normally-off microgrippers using highly stressed DLC and Ni bimorph structure" Appl. Phys. Lett. 85, 5750 (2004).
  • J.K.Luo, D.P.Chua, A.J.Flewitt, S.M.Spearing, N.A.Fleck and W.I.Milne;"Uniformity control of Ni thin film microstructure deposited by through-mask plating" J. Electrochem. Soc., 152, C36-41 (2005).
  • J.K.Luo, A.Flewitt, S.M.Spearing, N.A.Fleck and W.I.Milne; "Fabrication and comprehensive characterization of microtweezers based on three lateral thermal actuator configurations" J. Micromech. Microeng. 15, 1294-1302 (2005).     
  • J.K.Luo, A.Flewitt, S.M.Spearing, N.A.Fleck and W.I.Milne; "Three types of planar structure microspring electro-thermal-actuators with insulator beam constraints" J. Micromech. Microeng. 15, 1527-1535 (2005).
  • J.K.Luo, M.Lin, Y.Q.Fu, H.Lin, A.J.Flewitt, S.M.Spearing, N.A.Fleck and W.I.Milne; "MEMS-based digital variable capacitors with a high-k dielectric insulator" Sensors & Actuators A132, 136 (2006). J. K. Luo, Y. Q. Fu, H.R.Le, J.A.Williams, S.M.Spearing and W. I. Milne "Diamond and diamond-like carbon MEMS" J.Micromech. Microeng. 17, S147 (2007).

Dr Junfeng Geng

E-mail:   J.Geng@bolton.ac.uk| |   ; Tel:   +44 (0)1204 903518

Address: Institute for Renewable Energy and Environmental Technologies, University of Bolton, Deane Road, Bolton, BL3 5AB, U.K.   

Dr Junfeng Geng was initially educated as a chemist with his first and second degree (B.Sc., 1983; M.Sc., 1986) received from Nanjing University of Science and Technology, China. He started his academic career at Beijing Institute of Technology, with an initial appointment as a University Assistant Lecturer (1986), and later became a University Lecturer (1988) and Associate Professor (1994). He did his PhD study at University of Cambridge during 1994-98, and earned his PhD degree there in Chemistry. After graduation he went back to China and continued his Associate Professorship position at Beijing Institute of Technology (1998-99). He came back to Cambridge University later for postdoctoral research with Professor Brian Johnson FRS and became a Senior Research Associate in 2005. He left Cambridge in 2010 for University of Bolton with a new appointment as Reader in Materials Chemistry. Dr Geng is the author of over 100 publications mainly as full, refereed research papers published at international quality chemistry and materials science journals. He has made a number of scientific discoveries and inventions, including 12 patents filed up at UK national, European or the international level, in the field of metal catalysts and carbon nanomaterials. Several of his inventions have been adopted by industry and successfully commercialised since 2004.

Current research interests

  • Synthesis and characterisation of transition metal nanoparticles and molecular nanoclusters
  • Growth and property studies of carbon nanotubes
  • Synthesis and characterisation of inorganic and fullerene-based nanowires
  • Metal nanoparticles for catalysis and electronics
  • Inorganic and polymeric nanomaterials for chemical composites, renewable energy devices, environmental engineering and clean nanotechnology

Selected recent publications

  • J. Geng, I. A. Solovyov, D. Reid, A. Wheatley, A. V. Solovyov, B. F. G. Johnson. Fullerene-based One-dimensional Nanopolymer Formed through Topochemical Transformation of the Parent Nanowire. Phys. Rev., B, 81, 214114, 1-13 (2010).
  • J. Geng, I. A. Solovyov, W. Zhou, A. V. Solovyov, B. F. G. Johnson. Uncovering the Preferential Growth of the Fullerene (C60) Nanowires. J. Phys. Chem. C, 113, 6390 (2009).
  • J. Geng, D. A. Jefferson and B. F. G. Johnson. Exploring the Complexity of the Ultrafine Nanostructure of the NixB Nanoparticles. Chemistry: A European Journal, 15, 1134-1143 (2009).
  • J. Geng, W. Zhou, P. Skelton, W. Yue, I. A. Kinloch, B. F. G. Johnson and A. H. Windle. Crystal Structure and Growth Mechanism of Unusually Long Fullerene (C60) Nanowires. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 130(8), 2527-2534 (2008).