University of Sussex inks 10-year partnership for nanomaterial research

The University of Sussex has signed a 10-year strategic partnership with nanotech company Advanced Material Development (AMD), based at Surrey Research Park.

Together, they’ll work to develop and commercialise nanomaterial inks and coatings for both consumer and industry products.

Nanomaterials are the building blocks of materials and electronics, ten thousand times thinner than human hair.

The coatings being developed at the University of Sussex have novel electrical, thermal or optical properties, enabling new designs of electric vehicles, wind turbines and ‘smart windows’, among other applications. 

AMD aims to solve real-world industry challenges, working with institutions like Sussex to develop new materials across a range of applications and sectors.

Its chief scientific advisor is the university’s own Prof Alan Dalton.

The new partnership with the University of Sussex includes investment worth £2.6 million over the first three years, supporting researchers as they develop conductive inks for smart windows.

These inks, which change transparency when responding to heat and light, could in future lead to smart windows being used to support sustainable building heat management, letting heat in from the outside when cold inside, or letting heat out when it is hot inside.

The Sussex team will also use the funding to help develop coatings to reduce electrical interference for electric vehicles (EVs) – currently a barrier in the design of EVs.

Infrared materials and conductive inks will provide electromagnetic shielding for EVs, solving a real-world problem for manufacturers. 

Professor Sasha Roseneil, vice chancellor and president of the university, said: “This new partnership with AMD is enabling the University of Sussex to stretch our research capability in exciting new directions.

“Our scientists are carrying out world-leading research into nanomaterials that has enormous potential to bring out positive change, including supporting the fight against climate change, as well as contributing to innovation and growth that the UK economy needs.”

AMD and the University of Sussex have previously partnered on initiatives including the development of electrically conductive inks for printed radio frequency identification tags (RFID), which are used on clothing and food for warehouse management and anti-theft.

Billions of metal tags are used per year and almost all go to landfill, but Sussex research into metal-free tags found a sustainable solution, printing on paper and making the product compostable.

The teams also work together to produce radar-absorbing materials for reducing ‘radar clutter’ on wind turbines, which prevents them from interfering with weather forecasting and defence systems.

AMD CEO John Lee added: “We have been working successfully with the Sussex team to produce a phenomenal portfolio of intellectual property.

“We seek to apply this to substantial real-world challenges to deliver unique and novel solutions to our global customer base.

“I am delighted to be continuing this lucrative partnership with such a dedicated and talented team as well as extending our reach into other leading academic institutions internationally, particularly in the US.” 

The products of past collaborations between AMD and the university have been deployed by both NASA and the UK and US government defence agencies.