nanotechnology and advanced materials research institute

NANOTECHNOLOGY AND ADVANCED 

MATERIALS RESEARCH INSTITUTE 

ANNUAL REPORT 

1 AUGUST 2005 - 31 JULY 2006

NANOTECHNOLOGY AND 

ADVANCED MATERIALS 

RESEARCH INSTITUTE 

ANNUAL REPORT 

1 August 2005 – 31 July 2006

NANOTECHNOLOGY AND 

ADVANCED MATERIALS 

RESEARCH INSTITUTE 

ANNUAL REPORT 

(1 AUGUST 2005 - 31 JULY 2006) 

CONTENTS 

Page No 

1. Foreword by the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation) 3 

2. Foreword by the Director of the Research Institute 4 

3. Research Institute Members 5 

4. Research Students 7 

5. Research Publications 10 

6. Research Funding 18 

7. Indicators of Esteem 20

1. FOREWORD BY THE PRO-VICE CHANCELLOR 

(RESEARCH AND INNOVATION) 

‘Excellence, Innovation and Regional Engagement.’ This 

is the phrase that summarizes the objectives of 

the University of Ulster and was derived through 

institution-wide consultation in the past academic 

year. All three parts are highly relevant to research 

and, together with the specific core objective to 

‘undertake excellent research in selected areas of activity’, 

make it clear that research is, and will continue to be, 

a highly prized activity of the University. 

When our 17 Research Institutes were established 

in the 2004-05 academic year those staff colleagues 

with research outputs of the highest quality were designated as members. Over 

time the number of members has increased, and the research resources of 

the University are increasingly focussed on meeting their needs. Additionally 

mechanisms have been put in place across all institutes to ensure the targeted 

support of colleagues at earlier stages in research careers who have the potential 

to emerge as significant researchers in their own right. Our Research Institutes 

will be supported to achieve longevity and establish a reputation amongst external 

peers, research funders and research users. 

This first Annual Report documents a significant body of work much of which is 

internationally significant. As a reader, you may be a member of another research 

institution, perhaps seeking to collaborate with UU, or perhaps you are a graduate, 

or soon-to-be graduate, considering postgraduate research as a starting-point in 

your career, or perhaps you are involved in the private sector. You may even have 

been responsible for funding some of the research, or you are seeking solutions or 

expertise to solve a problem. Whatever your perspective, I hope that the material 

contained in this Annual Report will be useful and informative. The precise work 

underway in an institute may change with time, as will the Institute’s membership, 

and annual reports will be one mechanism through which this evolution will be 

tracked. 

I commend each colleague whose achievements are documented in this report 

for the excellence of her/his work and I assure every reader of the University’s 

continuing commitment to supporting the achievement of excellence. 

Professor Bernie Hannigan 

Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research & Innovation) 

3

2. FOREWORD BY THE 

RESEARCH INSTITUTE DIRECTOR 

This year has witnessed the building of new and strong 

relationships with International partners including 

industry and academia. The strategic signing MOU’s with 

IIT Mumbai and the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast are 

highly significant as we build our nanotechnology and 

clinical integration programmes. 

We have completed the set-up of a new Advanced 

Cardiovascular Centre which will be officially opened in 

December 2006 and this project was enhanced with a 

£1M philanthropic investment. A new Director will shortly 

be appointed and this centre will then actively develop new relationships in the 

area of bio-nanotechnology; electro-physiology and bio-medical science related 

to cardiovascular disease. 

We have recently reformed one of the key centres within NAMRI. The Northern 

Ireland Bio-Engineering Centre and the Nanotechnology Research Institute have 

combined and re-named the Nanotechnology and Integrated Bio-Engineering 

Centre thus maintaining the acronym NIBEC. New groups have been set up 

reflecting the growing nanotechnology elements across bioengineering. 

ECRE has developed key links with Rolls Royce; Boeing and a range of Aerospace 

collaborators. The centre has been successful in obtaining over £0.5 M from 

industry and DTI and continues to re-develop facilities as well as new topics 

especially in the areas of nano-composites. 

New appointments were made with Prof Waqar Ahmed joining NIBEC. He will 

develop new nanoparticles research as well as continuing his CVD interests. Dr 

Adrian Boyd and Dr Dorian Dixon will strengthen the Tissue Engineering and 

Regenerative medicine research areas. 

Key funding over the last year has seen new SRIF 3 infrastructural funding to 

further develop nanotechnology capability across the Institute. The arrival of a 

‘first of its kind’ nanotube fabrication capability is now a key flagship for NIBEC. 

Other funding including a major EU Marie Curie grant to fund 4 PhD Fellowships; 

various Royal Society grants to improve strategic links with Asia and a range of 

EU projects in areas such as Nanotubes and Photocatalysis. 

Key individuals within the Institute have been invited to present their work across 

the world including, keynotes in India; Japan; and Germany. NIBEC were centrally 

involved in running this years IEEE EMBS conference in New York and attracting 

the event to Europe next year. Other organisation of conferences and workshops 

included an E-health conference; a US-IRL R&D Nanotechnology Workshop; a 

Nanomanufacturing conference and various seminars. 

The Institute has also been awarded three new Visiting Scholars in the areas of 

plasma technology and microfluidics. Appointments have made and collaborations 

extended to Universities in USA, Bulgaria and Australia. NAMRI has managed to 

grow its strong technology transfer capability with three new Proof of Concept 

programmes and two new cross-border Fusion projects. Industrial integration 

has been strong with CAST Award support from Seagate; Intel; Rolls Royce and 

GSK. Invest Northern Ireland START grants and network funding are aiding 

collaboration in these areas. 

Professor James McLaughlin 

Director of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials Research Institute 

4

3. RESEARCH INSTITUTE MEMBERS 

Core Members 

Surname Forename Title Position 

Ahmed Waqar Prof Professor in Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials 

Anderson John Prof Professor of Electronics 

Boyd Adrian Dr Lecturer 

Brown Desmond Dr Academic Staff 

Byrne Tony Dr Lecturer 

Dixon Dorian Dr Lecturer 

Leacock Alan Dr Lecturer 

Lemoine Patrick Dr Lecturer 

Maguire Paul Prof Professor of Plasmas & Nanofabrication 

McAdams Eric Prof Professor of Bioengineering 

McIlhagger Alistair Dr Lecturer 

McLaughlin James Prof Director – Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials 

Research Institute 

Meenan Brian Prof Professor of Biomedical Materials 

Papakonstantinou Pagona Dr Reader in Advanced Materials 

Quinn Justin Dr Lecturer 

5

TRANSITIONAL MEMBERS 

6 

Surname Forename Title Position 

Abbas Gamal Dr Research Associate 

Akay Mustafa Dr Academic Staff 

Archer Edward Dr Research Associate 

Blakley James Dr Academic Staff 

Brown Alan Mr Research Fellow 

Burgess Samuel Dr Lecturer 

Burke George Dr Research Associate 

Cairns Marie Louise Dr Research Associate 

Campbell Malcolm Mr Knowledge Transfer Partnership – Rapid International Ltd 

Chirwa Lawrence Dr Lecturer 

Davey Shirley Dr Research Associate 

Dunlop Patrick Dr Research Associate 

Fitzgibbon Francis Mr Research Associate 

Ganeshmal Mahipal Mr Research Associate 

Gilmore Ken Dr Academic Staff 

Hamilton Jeremy Dr Research Associate 

King Gerald Mr Teaching Company Associate 

Laverty Seamus Dr Academic Staff 

Mahony Charles Dr Research Fellow 

McCann Richard Dr Project Engineer 

McMurray Trudy Dr Research Associate 

Moody Gillian Dr Research Associate 

Morgan Margaret Dr Lecturer 

Okpalugo Thomas Dr Research & Development Engineer 

O’Neill James Mr Research Associate 

Owens Frank Dr Academic Staff 

Quinn John Paul Dr Project Engineer 

Raman Subramanian Dr Research Associate 

Rao MPRV Dr Academic Staff 

Shang Naigui Dr Research Associate 

Sinha Roy Susanta Dr Research Associate 

Swales Lesley Mrs Research Nurse 

Turner Colin Dr Lecturer 

Tweedie Mark Mr Research Associate 

Waterman Niall Dr Research Associate 

Webb Alan Dr Senior Lecturer 

6

4. RESEARCH STUDENTS 

Name 

Ahmed, Mukhtar 

Title of Project 

Study of the effect of surface topography, structure, composition and roughness on 

the microbial growth and adhesion 

Grant Source 

Self or Parent 

Country of Origin 

Iraq 

Name 

Alrousan, Dheaya 


Solar photocatalytic disinfection of water 

Grant Source 

Vice Chancellor’s Research Studentship 


Jordan 

Name 

Baby, Aji 


Nanotechnology and nanofabrication 

Grant Source 



India 

Name 

Buchanan, Saul 


Investigation of unbalanced 3D carbon Fibre Composites for real life applications 

Grant Source 

DEL UU 


UK 

7

Name 


Grant Source 


Dale, Graham 

TiOx nanostructures – growth characterisation and application 

DEL UU 

Northern Ireland 

Name 


Grant Source 


Iyer, GR Saraswathi 

Surface modification of carbon nanotubes by ion beam and atomic flux irradiation 


India 

Name 


Grant Source 


Kumar, Shailesh 

Carbon nanotubes – low tern on voltage device for microplasma sensing cell 


India 

Name 


Grant Source 


McCracken, David 

The development of a more flexible roll bending machine 

DEL UU 


Name 


Grant Source 


McMullan, Martin 

Advanced electrochemical sensor platform based on carbon nanotube arrays for 

biomedical research 

DEL UU 


8

Name 


Grant Source 


Said, Ramadan 

Synthesis of Nano particle using vapour deposition techniques 

The Libyan People’s Bureau 

Libya 

Name 


Grant Source 


Weber, Sonja 

Real time evaluation of cellular processes on biomaterial surfaces using advanced 

spectroscopic techniques 

Self or Parent 

Germany 

Name 


Grant Source 


Young, Charles 

Analysis of 3D woven composites structures 

DEL UU 


9

5. RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS – CORE MEMBERS 

AHMED 

Ahmed E, Amar M, Ahmed W, Pilkington R D, Hill A E, Jackson M J, (Apr 2006) “Laser annealing of flashevaporated 

CulnSe2 thin films”, Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, Vol. 15, No. 2, A S M, ISSN 

1059-9495, Pages 213-217 

Ahmed E, Ahmed W, Pilkington R D, Hill A E, Jackson M J, (Apr 2006) “Transmission of photoaccoustic 

spectroscopy analysis of Culn0.75Ga0.25Se2 thin films”, Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, Vol. 

15, No. 2, A S M, ISSN 1059-9495, Pages 208-212 

Polini R, Mantini F Pighetti, Braic M, Amar M, Ahmed W, Taylor H, Jackson M J, (Apr 2006) “Effects of Ti- and Zrbased 

interlayer coatings on hot-filament chemical vapor deposition of diamond on high-speed steel”, Journal of 

Materials Engineering and Performance, Vol. 15, No. 2, A S M, ISSN 1059-9495, Pages 201-207 

Jones A N, Ahmed W, Rego C A, Jackson M J, Hall R, (Apr 2006) “Nucleation studies of pulsed bias enhanced 

CVD of diamond on biomaterials”, Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, Vol. 15, No. 2, A S M, ISSN 

1059-9495, Pages 192-194 

Amar M, Ahmed W, Taylor H, Jackson M J, Hassan I U, (Apr 2006) “Hot-filament chemical vapor deposition of 

polycrystalline diamond coatings to interlayered steel”, Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, Vol. 15, 

No. 2, A S M, ISSN 1059-9495, Pages 187-191 

Ahmed W, Ahmed E, Maryan C, Jackson M J, Ogwu A A, Ali N, Neto V F, Gracio J, (Apr 2006) “Time-modulated 

CVD process optimized using the Taguchi method”, Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, Vol. 15, 


Ali N, Kousar Y, Gracio J, Titus E, Okpalugo T I , Singh V, Pease M, Ogwu A A, Meletis E I, Ahmed W, Jackson M J, 

(Apr 2006) “Human microvascular endothelial cell seeding on Cr-DLC thin films for heart valve application”, 

Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, Vol. 15, No. 2, A S M, ISSN 1059-9495, Pages 230-235 

Polini R, Kumashiro S, Jackson M J, Amar M, Ahmed W, Sein H, (Apr 2006) “A study of diamond synthesis by hot 

filament chemical vapor deposition on Nc coatings”, Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, Vol. 15, 


Polini R, Mantini F P, Braic M, Amar M, Ahmed W, Taylor H, (Jan 2006) “Effects of Ti- and Zr-based interlayer 

coatings on the hot filament chemical vapour deposition of diamond on high speed steel”, Thin Solid Films, Vol. 

494, No. 1-2, Elsevier, ISSN 0040-6090, Pages 116-122 

Polini R, Amar M, Ahmed W, Kumashiro S, Sein H, Colligon J, (Oct 2005) “A study of diamond synthesis by hot 

filament chemical vapour deposition on nanocomposite coatings”, Thin Solid Films, Vol. 489, No. 1-2, Elsevier, 

ISSN 0040-6090, Pages 116-121 

10

Jackson M J, Jones A N, Ahmed W, (Oct 2005) “Experimental and gas phase modelling of nanocrystalline 

diamond films grown on titanium alloys for biomedical applications”, Journal of Materials Engineering and 

Performance, Vol. 14, No. 5, A S M, ISSN 1059-9495, Pages 565-568 

Jackson M J, Robinson G M, Sein H, Ahmed W, Ali N, Misra D S, (Oct 2005) “Surface characterization of (111) 

and (100) textured diamond coatings deposited to silicon”, Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, 

Vol. 14, No. 5, A S M, ISSN 1059-9495, Pages 666-670 

Jackson M J, Ahmed W, (Oct 2005) “Characterization of N-doped polycrystalline diamond films deposited on 

microgringing tools”, Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, Vol. 14, No. 5, A S M, ISSN 1059-9495, 

Pages 654-665 

ANDERSON 

Owens C, Navarro C, McClelland A, Riddell J, Escalona O, Anderson JM and Adgey J , “Improved detection of 

acute myocardial infarction using a diagnostic algorithm based on calculated epicardial potentials”, International 

Journal of Cardiology, 105(3), Elsevier, ISSN 0167-5273, Dec 2005 

Glover B M, McCann C J, Walsh S J, Moore M J, Manoharan G, Roberts M J, Wilson C M, Allen J D, Anderson JM, 

Adgey A A J , (Oct 2005) “A novel rectangular biphasic waveform from a radiofrequency defibrillator compared 

with a conventional waveform for the transvenous cardioversion of chronic atrial fibrillation in patients”, 

Journal of Electrocardiology, Vol. 38, No. 4, Elsevier, ISSN 0022-0736, Pages 34-35 

BOYD 

Boyd AR, Meenan BJ and Leyland NS, (May 2006), Surface characterisation of the evolving nature of radio 

frequency (RF) magnetron sputter deposited calcium phosphate thin films after exposure to physiological 

solutions, Surface and Coatings Technology, Vol 200, Elsevier, ISSN 0257-8972, pp 6002-6013, 

BYRNE 

McMurray T A, Dunlop P S M, Byrne J, (Aug 2006) “The photocatalytic degradation of atrazine on 

nanoparticulate TiO(2) films”, Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry, Vol. 182, No. 1, Elsevier, 

ISSN 1010-6030, Pages 43-51 

Dunlop PSM, Oliver L, Byrne JA and McAdams ET, Detection and removal of pathogenic biofilms on medical 

implant surfaces, in Personalised Health Management Systems, The Integration of Innovative Sensing, Textile, 

Information and Communication Technologies, Volume 117 Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 1- 

58603-565-7, 2005 

DIXON 

ˈ 

Dixon D, Brown A, Meenan BJ, Eatock J, (Apr 2006) “Experiences of new product development in the medical 

device industry”, Medical Device Technology, Vol. 17, No. 3, Canon Communications LLC, Pages 20-22 

Dixon D, Eatock J, Meenan BJ and Morgan M, “Application of design of experiment (DOE) techniques to 

process validation in medical device manufacture”, Journal of Validation Technology, 12(2), Advanster Publishing, 

ISSN 1079-6630, pp 92-100, Feb 2006 

11

LEACOCK 

Leacock AG, (Feb 2006) A mathematical description of orthotropy in sheet metals, Journal of the Mechanics and 

Physics of Solids, 54(2), Elsevier, ISSN 0022-5096, pp 425-444, 

LEMOINE 

Maguire PD, McLaughlin JAD, Okpalugo TIT, Lemoine P, Papakonstantinou P, McAdams ET, Needham M, Ogwu 

AA, Ball M and Abbas GA, Mechanical stability corrosion performance and bioresponse of amorphous diamondlike 

carbon for medical stents and guidewires, Diamond and Related Materials, 14, Elsevier, ISSN 0925-9635, pp 

1277-1288, Aug 2005 

McNally T, Potschke P, Halley P, Murphy M, Martin D, Bell SEJ, Brennan GP, Bein D, Lemoine P and Quinn JP, 

“Polyethylene multiwalled carbon nanotube composites”, Polymer, 46(19), Elsevier, ISSN 0032-3861, pp 8222- 

8232, Sep 2005 

Lejeune M, Benlahsen M, Lemoine P, (Aug 2005) “Effect of air post contamination on mechanical properties of 

amorphous carbon nitride thin films”, Solid State Communications, Vol. 135, No. 7, Elsevier, ISSN 0038-1098, 

Pages 434-439 

MAGUIRE 

Lemoine P, Quinn JP, Maguire PD, Papakonstantinou P and Dougan N, “Rheological analysis of creep in 

hydrogenated amorphous carbon films”, Thin Solid Films, Vol 514, No 1-2, Elsevier, ISSN 0040-6090, Pages 223- 

230 Aug 2006 




1277-1288, Aug 2005 

McADAMS 




58603-565-7, 2005, 




1277-1288, Aug 2005 

Nugent C D, McCullagh PJ, McAdams ET, Lymberis A, (2005) “Personalised Health Management Systems: 

The Integration of Innovative Sensing, Textile, Information and Communication Technologies”, IOS Press 

(Amsterdam), ISBN 1-58603-565-7, Pages 1-235 

12

McLAUGHLIN 

Abbas G A, Papakonstantinou P, McLaughlin JAD, (Nov 2005) “Hydrogen softening and optical transparency in 

Si-incorporated hydrogenated amorphous carbon films”, Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 98, No. 10, A I P, ISSN 

0021-8979, Pages 103505-1-103505-6 

Abbas G A, Papakonstantinou P, McLaughlin JAD, (Dec 2005) “Investigation of local ordering and electronic 

structure in Si-and hydrogen doped tetrahedral amorphous carbon thin films”, Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 87, No. 

25, A I P, ISSN 0003-6951, Pages 251918-251918 

Maguire PD, McLaughlin JAD, Okpalugo TIT, Lemoine P, Papakonstantinou P, McAdams ET, Needham M, Ogwu AA, 

Ball M and Abbas GA, Mechanical stability corrosion performance and bioresponse of amorphous diamond-like 

carbon for medical stents and guidewires, Diamond and Related Materials, 14, Elsevier, ISSN 0925-9635, pp 1277- 

1288, Aug 2005 

Okpalugo TIT, Papakonstantinou P, Murphy H, McLaughlin JAD and Brown NMD, Oxidative Functionalisation of 

Carbon Nanotubes in Atmospheric Pressure Filamentary Dielectric Barrier Discharge (APDBD), Carbon, 43(43), 

Elsevier, ISSN 0008-6223, pp 2951-2959, Nov 2005 

Ray SC, Pao CW, Chiou JW, Tsai HM, Jan JC, Pong WF, McCann R, Roy SS, Papakonstantinou P and McLaughlin JAD, 

“Electronic properties of a-CN(x) thin films: An x-ray absorption and photoemission spectroscopy study”, Journal 

of Applied Physics, 98(3), A I P, ISSN 0021-8979, Aug 2005 

Ray S C, Okpalugo T I T, Pao C W, Tsai H M, Chiou J W, Jan J C, Pong W F, Papakonstantinou P, McLaughlin JAD, 

Wang W J, (Oct 2005) “Electronic structure and photoluminescence effect of silicon doped diamond like carbon 

(Si:DLC) thin films”, Materials Research Bulletin, Vol. 40, No. 10, Pergamon, ISSN 0025-5408, Pages 1757-1764 

Roy S S, McCann R, Papakonstantinou P and McLaughlin JAD, “Near edge x-ray absorption fine structure study 

of aligned pie-bonded carbon structures in nitrogenated ta-C films”, Journal of Applied Physics, 99(4), A I P, ISSN 

0021-8979, pp 043511-043515, Feb 2006 

MEENAN 

Boyd AR, Meenan BJ and Leyland NS, Surface characterisation of the evolving nature of radio frequency (RF) 

magnetron sputter deposited calcium phosphate thin films after exposure to physiological solutions, Surface and 

Coatings Technology, Vol 200, No 20-21, Elsevier, ISSN 0257-8972, pp 6002-6013, May 2006 

Dixon D, Eatock J, Meenan BJ and Morgan M, “Application of design of experiment (DOE) techniques to process 

validation in medical device manufacture”, Journal of Validation Technology, 12(2), Advanster Publishing, ISSN 1079- 

6630, pp 92-100, Feb 2006 

Dixon D, Eatock J, Meenan BJ, Morgan M, (Feb 2006) “Application of design of experiment (DOE) techniques 

to process validation in medical device manufacture”, Journal of Validation Technology, Vol. 12, No. 2, Advanster 

Publishing, ISSN 1079-6630, Pages 92-100 

13

Meenan BJ, (Aug 2005) “Moving with the times [material biocompatibility]”, Materials World, Vol. 13, No. 8, Maney 

Publishing, ISSN 0967-8638 

Liu C, Brown NMD and Meenan BJ, “Uniformity analysis of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) processed 

polyethylene terephthalate (PET) surface”, Applied Surface Science, 252(6), Elsevier, ISSN 0169-4332, pp 2297- 

2310, Jan 2006 

PAPAKONSTANTINOU 

Abbas G A, Papakonstantinou P, McLaughlin JAD, (Nov 2005) “Hydrogen softening and optical transparency in Siincorporated 

hydrogenated amorphous carbon films”, Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 98, No. 10, A I P, ISSN 0021- 

8979, Pages 103505-1-103505-6 

Abbas G A, Papakonstantinou P, McLaughlin JAD, (Dec 2005) “Investigation of local ordering and electronic 

structure in Si-and hydrogen doped tetrahedral amorphous carbon thin films”, Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 87, No. 

25, A I P, ISSN 0003-6951, Pages 251918-251918 

Fang W-C, Sun C-L, Huang J-H, Chen K-H, Chyan O, Chen K-H, Papakonstantinou P, (Jan 2006) “Enhanced 

electrochemical properties of arrayed CN(x) nanotubes directly grown on Ti-buffered silicon substrates”, 

Electrochemical & Solid State Letters, Vol. 9, No. 3, E C S, ISSN 1099-0062, Pages A175-A178 

Fang W-C, Huang J-H, Papakonstantinou P, Chen K-H, (Jan 2006) “Superior electrochemical performance of CN(x) 

nanotubes using TiSi(2) buffer layer on Si substrates”, Journal of Vacuum Science Technology B, Vol. 24, No. 1, A I P, 

Pages 87-90 

Lemoine P, Quinn J P, Maguire PD, Papakonstantinou P, Dougan N, (Aug 2006) “Rheological analysis of creep in 

hydrogenated amorphous carbon films”, Thin Solid Films, Vol. 514, No. 1-2, Elsevier, ISSN 0040-6090, Pages 223- 

230 




1288, Aug 2005 

Murphy H, Papakonstantinou P, Okpalugo T I T, (Mar 2006) “Raman study of multiwalled carbon nanotubes 

functionalized with oxygen groups”, Journal of Vacuum Science Technology B, Vol. 24, No. 2, A I P, ISSN 1071-1023, 

Pages 715-720 







14

Roy S S, McCann R, Papakonstantinou P and McLaughlin JAD, “Near edge x-ray absorption fine structure study 


0021-8979, pp 043511-043515, Feb 2006, 

RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS – TRANSITIONAL MEMBERS 

ABBAS 

Abbas GA, Papakonstantinou P and McLaughlin JAD, Investigation of local ordering and electronic structure in 

Si- and hydrogen doped tetrahedral amorphous carbon thin films, Applied Physics Letters, 87 (25), A I P, ISSN 

0003-6951, pp 251918-251918, Dec 2005 

Abbas GA, Papakonstantinou P and McLaughlin JAD, Hydrogen softening and optical transparency in Si-incorporated 

hydrogenated amorphous carbon films, Journal of Applied Physics, 98 (10), A I P, ISSN 0021-8979, pp 103505-1- 

103505-6, Nov 2005 




1288, Aug 2005 

BROWN (Alan) 

Dixon D, Brown A, Meenan BJ, Eatock J, (Apr 2006) “Experiences of new product development in the medical 

device industry”, Medical Device Technology, Vol. 17, No. 3, Canon Communications LLC, Pages 20-22 

DUNLOP 

McMurray T A, Dunlop P S M, Byrne J, (Aug 2006) “The photocatalytic degradation of atrazine on nanoparticulate 

TiO(2) films”, Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry, Vol. 182, No. 1, Elsevier, ISSN 1010-6030, 

Pages 43-51 




58603-565-7, 2005, 

McCANN 




Roy SS, McCann R, Papakonstantinou P and McLaughlin JAD, “Near edge x-ray absorption fine structure study 


0021-8979, pp 043511-043515, Feb 2006 

15

McMURRAY 

McMurray TA, Byrne JA and Dunlop PSM, Photocatalytic Degradation of Atrazine on Nanoparticulate TiO(2) films, 

Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A-Chemistry, Vol 182, No 1, Elsevier, ISSN 1010-6030, pp 43-51, Aug 

2006 

MORGAN 

Dixon D, Eatock J, Meenan BJ and Morgan M, “Application of design of experiment (DOE) techniques to process 

validation in medical device manufacture”, Journal of Validation Technology, 12(2), Advanster Publishing, ISSN 1079- 

6630, pp 92-100, Feb 2006 

OKPALUGO 

Ali N, Kousar Y, Gracio J, Titus E, Okpalugo T I , Singh V, Pease M, Ogwu A A, Meletis E I, Ahmed W, Jackson M J, (Apr 

2006) “Human microvascular endothelial cell seeding on Cr-DLC thin films for heart valve application”, Journal of 

Materials Engineering and Performance, Vol. 15, No. 2, A S M, ISSN 1059-9495, Pages 230-235 




1288, Aug 2005 

Murphy H, Papakonstantinou P, Okpalugo T I T, (Mar 2006) “Raman study of multiwalled carbon nanotubes 

functionalized with oxygen groups”, Journal of Vacuum Science Technology B, Vol. 24, No. 2, A I P, ISSN 1071-1023, 

Pages 715-720 




OWENS 

Owens C, Navarro C, McClelland A, Riddell J, Escalona O, Anderson JM and Adgey J , “Improved detection of acute 

myocardial infarction using a diagnostic algorithm based on calculated epicardial potentials”, International Journal 

of Cardiology, 105(3), Elsevier, ISSN 0167-5273, Dec 2005 

QUINN (John Paul) 

Lemoine P, Quinn JP, Maguire PD, Papakonstantinou P and Dougan N, “Rheological analysis of creep in hydrogenated 

amorphous carbon films”, Thin Solid Films, Vol 514, No 1-2, Elsevier, ISSN 0040-6090, pp 223-230, Aug 2006 

McNally T, Potschke P, Halley P, Murphy M, Martin D, Bell SEJ, Brennan GP, Bein D, Lemoine P and Quinn JP, 

“Polyethylene multiwalled carbon nanotube composites”, Polymer, 46(19), Elsevier, ISSN 0032-3861, pp 8222-8232, 

Sep 2005 

16

SINHA ROY 

Roy S S, McCann R, Papakonstantinou P, McLaughlin JAD, (Feb 2006) “Near edge x-ray absorption fine structure 

study of aligned pie-bonded carbon structures in nitrogenated ta-C films”, Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 99, No. 

4, A I P, ISSN 0021-8979, Pages 043511-043515 

Ray S C, Pao C W, Chiou J W, Tsai H M, Jan J C, Pong W F, McCann R, Roy S S, Papakonstantinou P, McLaughlin JAD, 

(Aug 2005) “Electronic properties of a-CN(x) thin films: An x-ray absorption and photoemission spectroscopy 

study”, Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 98, No. 3, A I P, ISSN 0021-8979, 

17

6. RESEARCH FUNDING 

Staff Name(s) Title of Award Funding Body Value 

Anderson Mathematical modelling of the Cardiac Research £37,584 

heart - nursing award 

Fund - RVH 

Anderson Centre for Advanced Cardiology DEL-SRIF3 £315,000 

McLaughlin 

Boyd Discussion on the establishment INI Networking £1,303 

Meenan 

of a European network to study 

protein adsorption on the surface 

of bioactive materials using MALDI-MS 

Brown PGD/MSc Engineering (named specialism) DEL-ESF £107,056 

Byrne Optom X: Self-sterilising tonomter heads Invest Northern £103,235 

Ireland - Proof of 

Concept 

Byrne Sodiswater: Solar disinfection of drinking CEC.Framework 6 £145,742 

Dunlop water for use in developing countries or INCO DEV 

in emergency situations 

Dixon Study of nanocrystalline TiO2 films The Royal Society £2,270 

Byrne 

for a range of applications 

Leacock Construction of a seated perturbation R&D Office HPSS £2,000 

test rig 

RRG - Cohesion 

Fund via RVH 

McAdams Wound dressing system capable Invest Northern £118,493 

of mapping and characterising the 

Ireland - Proof of 

wound and healing process 

Concept 

McAdams Wide Area Research Training in CEC - Framework 6 £303,185 

Health Engineering: WARTHE 

Marie Curie EST 

McIlhagger Investigation in the properties of Rolls Royce £56,507 

Quinn 

3D woven preformS 

Morgan 

McIlhagger Modelling of 3D Woven Fabrics DTI/Rolls Royce £244,729 

Quinn 

for Structural Composites 

McLaughlin Process Nano Engineering centre DEL-SRIF3 £1,500,000 

18

Staff Name(s) Title of Award Funding Body Value 

McLaughlin Director of the Cardiovascular Cardiac Research £1,000,000 

Research Centre 

Fund - RVH 

Papakonstantinou International Conference on Applications The Royal Society £1,220 

of Diamond and Related Materials 

Papakonstantinou Charge transport at molecular and bio The Royal Society £12,000 

molecular interfaces of carbon nanotubes 

Papakonstantinou Interfacial Electrical properties of INI Networking £1,925 

DNA-Modified vertically aligned 

carbon nanotubes: Frequency Dependent 

Papakonstantinou Advanced electrochemical sensor GlaxoSmithKline £5,000 

platforms based on carbon 

UK Ltd 

nanotube arrays 

Papakonstantinou Interfacial Properties of carbon The Nuffield £1,440 

nanotubes linked with biomolecules 

Foundation 

Quinn Visit to Invest NI workshop in Brussels. INI Networking £514 

McIlhagger 

Quinn Investigation of Advanced Invest Northern £15,467 

McIlhagger Hybrid Composite Structures Ireland 

19

7. INDICATORS OF ESTEEM 

AHMED 

• 1998 Charted Engineer Ceng 

• 1998 Member of the Oil and colour Chemists Association 

• 1998 Fellow of Institute of Materials FIMMM 

• 2002 Fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry FRSC 

• 2005 Purdue University, USA Visiting Professor 

• Bunshah Award Winner 

• Member of Access to Higher Education Community Forum 1998 – 2005 

• Member of North West CVD Forum 1996 – 2005 

• Member of CVD Ireland 2006 

• Editor – International Journal Nanomanufacturing (Inderscience) 2005 – date 

• Member of Editorial Board – International Journal of Surface Science & Engineering 

(Inderscience) 2006 – date 

• Programme Chairman of the International Surface Engineering Congress & Exposition 15-18 May 2006 

–Seattle, USA and Proceedings co-editor. 

• Co-Editor of the Special Issue to be published after ISEC 2006 – Materials Engineering & Performance 

– 2006 

• Member of the Organising Committee Thin Films 2006 – to be held in Singapore 

• Programme Chairman of the International Surface Engineering Congress & Exposition 2-4 August 2005 

– held in Minnesota, USA and Proceedings co-editor. 

• Co-Editor of the Special Issue from ISEC 2005 – Materials Engineering & Performance 

• Co-Chairman Scientific Committee and Member of Central Organising Committee of ICSCnanoSMat 

2005, International Conference on Surfaces, Coatings and Nanostructured Materials, University of Aveiro, 

Aveiro, Portugal 

• 7-9 September 2005 (Keynote talk given by Prof Sir Harry Kroto – Noble Laureate) 

• Member of Organising Committee “Novel Applications of Surface Modifications” 18-21 September 2005 

– I was responsible for organising the exhibition for Industrial Companies (Opening address was given by 

Prof Sir David King – Government’s Chief Scientific Advisor). 

• Member of the Editorial Advisory Board of International Elsevier Journal VACUUM 2002 – 2005 

ANDERSON 

• US-IRL (NSF-NIH) Task Force 2006 

BOYD 

• Secretary of Northern Ireland Biomedical Engineering Society 

• Committee member of local branch of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) 

• Currently a Science and Engineering Ambassador for the UK 

• Member of the UK Society for Biomaterials (UKSB) 

• Professional Graduate member of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (ProfGradMIMMM) 

20

• Member of the organising committee for the Northern Ireland Biomedical Engineering Society annual 

conference, University of Ulster at Jordanstown, April 2006 

• 1st prize for best oral presentation at European Society for Biomaterials, 19th European conference on 

Biomaterials, Italy, Sept 2005 

BYRNE 

• Invited paper to special edition of the Journal of Applied Electrochemistry (published 2005) 

• Secretary to the Royal Society of Chemistry (Northern Ireland 2004-date 

• Invited contributing author to book Advances in Control of Disinfection By-Products in Drinking Water 

Systems” to be published 2006 

• Referee for international peer reviewed journals including, Solar Energy Engineering, Applied Catalysis B: 

Environmental, Applied Catalysis A: General, Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology, Journal 

of Physical Chemistry, Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, Environmental Science and Technology, 

sand Optical Materials. 

• Member of National Sanitation Foundation working group on TOC standardisation. 

• Member of the Dept of Health UK Surgical Instrument Decontamination Working Group, 2004 – 2006 

• Invited participant in workshop entitled “Potential misuse of 21st century chemistry” , Belfast, Jan 2006 

• External examiner for Masters of Science by Research at Cranfield University,, Feb 2006 

• 2005 Investment Belfast 25k Award, leader of finalist team “Radiance” 

• 2 UK patents 

DIXON 

• Regional secretary of the Institute of Materials (IOM3) 

• Board member of Medi-Ten (N.Ireland medical device manufacturers quality association) 

• Member of Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) 

• Member of Northern Ireland Bioengineering Society (NIBES) 

• Invited speaker at MDT 2005 

• Research Fellow on UK wide MATCH project assisting medical device manufacturers 2002 – 2005 

• Presented at 6 international conferences in US 

LEMOINE 

• Developed a formal collaboration with Northeastern University (Prof. Busiahana and Dr. S. Muftu) 

• Developed a formal collaboration with CNRS Solid State Physics Laboratory at the University of Amiens. 

• Referee for ‘Diamond and Related Materials’, ‘Surface Coatings and Technology’, ‘Journal of Physics D’, 

‘IOP’ 

• Invited speaker at International Conference on Metallurgical Coatings and Thin Films, San Diego 2006. 

• Key note speaker at International Symposium on Advanced Materials, Islamabad, Pakistan, Sept 2005 

21

• Invited to write book chapter – “Improved Carbon materials for Nanomanufacturing Applications” P 

Lemoine, JP Quinn, P Papakonstantinou, P Maguire, M McLaughlin. CRC Handbook of Nanomanufacturing, 

Editor A Busnaina, Taylor and Francis, ISBN 0-8493-3326-1, May 2006 

• Invited to write book chapter – “Mechanical Characterisation and Properties of DLC Films” P Lemoine, 

Editor C Donnet, A Erdemir. Springer Verlag Series, Tribology of Diamond-Like Carbon Films. To 

be published Sept 2006. 

• Consulted on LVSEM applications to Bio-sensors by journalist for review article in Sensor Technology 

MAGUIRE 

• Fellow of Institute of Physics (FinstP) 

• EPSRC College member 

• Chartered Engineer (Ceng) 

• Chartered Physicist (Cphys) 

• Theme coordinator, Materials Processing; EPSRC Network on Plasmas, NanotechNI/Univeristy of Ulster 

representative on InvestNI Nanotechnology trade visit to China and Japan 

• Invited presentation to YucoMat 2005, Serbia & Montenegro 

• Chairperson, EPSRC Technological Plasma Workshop Committee, 2006-2007 

• Invited presentation to 2nd International Centres of Excellence Forum on Plasma Science and Technology 

on behalf of UK Centre of Excellence on Plasmas 

• Organiser, EPSRC Non-Thermal Plasma Network Workshop on Hydrocarbon Plasmas, University of 

Ulster, Feb 2006 

• Patents: 1UK 1US granted 

• InvestNI Flame Award for Business Spin-Out Presentation, Jan 2006 

McADAMS 

• Member of the International Scientific Committee, ITBM-RBM, Elsevier 

• EPSRC College Member 

• Member of the International Scientific Advisory Committee.: 3rd International Workshop on the 

integration of innovat5ive Sensing, Micro and Nanosystems, Textile, Information and Communication 

Technologies in Personalised Health. KKL, Lucerne, Switzerland, January 30th – February 1st 2006. 

• Member of the IEEE EMBS Technical committee on Wearable Biomedical Sensors & Systems 

• Member of European PhD Jury 

• Invited Lecture “resting ECG Electrode design considerations”. Unomedical A/S, Glos April 2006 

• Invited Lecture “Robust, artefact-free monitoring. It makes sense to start with sensors”. Workshop on 

Smart Wearable Health & Healthcare Systems and Applications. 27th Annual International Conference of 

the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology (EMBS) Shanghai, Sept 2005. 

McILHAGGER 


• Organising Committee. International Conference on Manufacture of Automated Composites (ICMAC) 

2004/5 

• Editorial Board American Journal of Applied Sciences. 

• Professional member of the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE) 

22

• Associate member of the Institute of Materials (IOM3) 

• Affiliate member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (ImechE) 

• Associate member of the Institute of Nanotechnology (IoN) 

• Referee to Journal Composites A 

• EPSRC Peer Review College (Jan 06 – Dec 09) 

McLAUGHLIN 

• Organising Committee and presenter at Healthcare and Medical Textiles Conference W5 Belfast 

• EPSRC College Member 

• Invited and published 3 chapters of a new book on Properties of Amorphous Carbon (R. Silva (Ed.)) 2002 

ISBN: 0 85296 961 9 

• EPSRC College member 2005 

• Amorphous Carbon Network including University of Ulster; Cambridge University, Surrey, Nayang 

(Singapore), Politecnica di Torino (Italy) and various industrial collaborators including Seagate. Brite 

Network, amorphous carbon and phosphors for flat displays. 

• Invited Speaker at Leeds Workshop on Nanotechnology in Medical Textiles. 

• Sub-panel member of the RAE 2008 Metallurgy and Materials Committee 

• Assessor for Enterprise Ireland Research Innovation Fund with Doctor D Brown 

• Member of the 2005-2006 NanoIreland Task-Force 

• Chair of the NanoIreland Materials Panel 2005-2006 

• Invited Speaker at IOP Sensors and Their Applications XII 

• Invited Talk :21st Century COE KEIO-LCC International Symposium Sept 2005 

• Invited Talks (2 invited talks): Satellite Symposium under the aegis of Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of the 

National Academy of Sciences, India IIT Bombay October 2005 

• SMAC Italy September 2005 

• Keynote address to the Research Forum of the Safefood Chemical Residues Research Network February 

2005 

• 2006 25K First round judge 

• Invited speaker at the ICSM 2006 conference (Dublin) 

• Organising committee for US-Irl Nanotechnology Workshop, Belfast, Oct 2006 

MEENAN 

• Panel member of the Bio-Nanotechnology NanoIreland Panel 2005-2006 


• Organising Committee and presenter at Healthcare and Medical Textiles Conference W5 Belfast 

• Fellow Royal Society of Chemistry (Cchem) since 1999 

• Fellow Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland since 1998 

• Chairman, Royal Society Chemistry Northern Ireland Section Trust, 2002 – 

• President, Northern Ireland Biomedical Engineering Society, 2002 – 

• Committee Member, Biomedical Materials Division, Institute of Materials Minerals & Mining (IoMMM, 

London), 2002 – 

• Co-Director, EPSRC Funded Multi-disciplinary Assessment of Technology Centre in Healthcare (MATCH), 

University of Ulster 

• Council Member, Bioengineering Section, Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland – 1998 to date. 

• Associate Member, EPSRC/DTI Faraday Partnership in Medical Devices 

23

• Invited Editor of RSC Handbook of Biomaterials – This 2 Volume Handbook will be published for the 

International Market in the Autumn of 2005. 

PAPAKONSTANTINOU 

• EPSRC College and Panel member 

• Royal Society panel member on international grants (2006-2009) 

• Co-chair and Organiser ICMTF (San Diego 2006) 

• Scientific committee member of ICSM conference, Dublin July 2006 

• Invited speaker at Department of Metallurgy & Materials, Birmingham, May 2006 

• Acted as referee for the National Science Foundation, NSF (US). 

• Referee for NSF Projects. 

QUINN (Justin) 

• Committee Member – young members committee of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers 

• Organising committee member – International Conference on Manufacture of Automated Composites 

2004/5 

24

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