Dr Brant Walkley

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering

Senior Lecturer

b.walkley@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 (0) 114 222 7528

Room B56, Sir Robert Hadfield Building

Full contact details

Dr Brant Walkley
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Room B56
Sir Robert Hadfield Building
Mappin Street
Sheffield
S1 3JD

Profile

I was appointed Lecturer in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering in Sept 2019, where I lead the Sustainable Materials at Sheffield (SMASH) research team. Prior to this I was a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Sheffield (Oct 2016 – Aug 2019), and completed my PhD in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at The University of Melbourne, Australia (awarded Dec 2016). I also hold Bachelor degrees from The University of Melbourne in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (Honours) and Science (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology).

My research has been funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Innovate UK, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and both UK and international industry groups. I also lead projects funded by the European Research Council, National Science Foundation and Tertiary Education Trust Fund. I am an invited Editorial Panel Member of ICE Construction Materials, a Guest Editor of the journals Frontiers in Materials Special Issue New insights into the molecular structure of cementitious materials, Frontiers in Built Environment/Frontiers in Materials Special Issue Materials and Technologies for Low-carbon Concrete, and Sustainability, Special Issue Materials for Sustainability, and an invited Expert Panel Member of Net Zero: Decarbonising Construction briefing, UK Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, a member of the Institute of Chemical Engineers and a member of the RILEM Technical Committees 267-TRM and 281-CCC.

I teach a variety of research-led core and applied chemical engineering subjects. I was awarded an ‘Undergraduate Teaching Award’ in 2020 and received a ‘Letter of Commendation for Teaching Excellence’ in 2019 from the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of Sheffield, and was awarded the ‘Best Tutor’ prize in 2015, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Melbourne.

Research interests

Our research aims to drive new advances in the development of materials and processes for sustainable infrastructure, environmental remediation and clean energy. This will enable industry to meet the needs of our society both sustainably and cost-effectively, improving the well-being of our society and environment.

Broadly speaking, our research group focuses on investigation of composition-structure-property relationships, reaction mechanisms and kinetics in cements, glasses, ceramics and nanomaterials using advanced spectroscopic and microstructural techniques, including solid state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Current projects focus on:

Development of low-CO₂ cements for sustainable infrastructure
Understanding durability and degradation phenomena in low-CO₂ cements
Understanding and controlling radionuclide-mineral interactions in cement matrices used for immobilisation of radioactive waste
Controlling reaction mechanisms, kinetics and retention in cement wasteforms for safe disposal of heavy metal pollutants
Understanding composition-structure-property relationships in solid state electrolytes for energy storage.

Publications

Journal articles

Yorkshire AS, Stennett MC, Walkley B, Provis JL, Townsend LT, Haigh LT, Hyatt NC, Mottram LM & Corkhill CL (2023) Spectroscopic identification of Ca-bearing uranyl silicates formed in C–S–H systems. Scientific Reports, 13.
Ke X, Baki VA, Large AI, Held G, Walkley B & Li J (2022) Atomic-scale characterisation of sodium aluminosilicate hydrates (N-A-S-H) and Mg-substituted N(-M)-A-S-H using XANES. Applied Geochemistry, 105515-105515.
Robshaw TJ, Turner J, Tuck O, Pyke C, Kearney S, Simoni M, Sharrad CA, Walkley B & Ogden MD (2022) Functionality screening to help design effective materials for radioiodine abatement. Frontiers in Chemistry, 10. View this article in WRRO
Gluth GJG, Ke X, Vollpracht A, Weiler L, Bernal SA, Cyr M, Dombrowski-Daube K, Geddes DA, Grengg C, Le Galliard C , Nedeljkovic M et al (2022) Carbonation rate of alkali-activated concretes and high-volume SCM concretes: a literature data analysis by RILEM TC 281-CCC. Materials and Structures, 55(8).
Henning R, Sturm P, Geddes DA, Keßler S, Walkley B & Gluth GJG (2022) The influence of curing temperature on the strength and phase assemblage of hybrid cements based on GGBFS/FA blends. Frontiers in Materials, 9.
Derkani MH, Bartlett NJ, Koma G, Carter LA, Geddes DA, Provis JL & Walkley B (2022) Mechanisms of dispersion of metakaolin particles via adsorption of sodium naphthalene sulfonate formaldehyde polymer. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 628(Part B), 745-757.
Avet F, Li X, Ben Haha M, Bernal SA, Bishnoi S, Cizer Ö, Cyr M, Dolenec S, Durdzinski P, Haufe J , Hooton D et al (2022) Report of RILEM TC 267-TRM phase 2: optimization and testing of the robustness of the R3 reactivity tests for supplementary cementitious materials. Materials and Structures, 55(3). View this article in WRRO
Walkley B, Geddes DA, Matsuda T & Provis JL (2022) Reversible Adsorption of Polycarboxylates on Silica Fume in High pH, High Ionic Strength Environments for Control of Concrete Fluidity. Langmuir, 38(5), 1662-1671.
Ren J, Zhang L, Walkley B, Black JR & San Nicolas R (2022) Degradation resistance of different cementitious materials to phosphoric acid attack at early stage. Cement and Concrete Research, 151.
Yorkshire AS, Stennett MC, Walkley B, O'Sullivan SE, Mottram LM, Bailey DJ, Provis JL, Hyatt NC & Corkhill CL (2022) Spectroscopic evaluation of UVI–cement mineral interactions: ettringite and hydrotalcite. Journal of Synchrotron Radiation, 29(1), 89-102.
Robshaw TJ, Turner J, Kearney S, Walkley B, Sharrad CA & Ogden MD (2021) Capture of aqueous radioiodine species by metallated adsorbents from wastestreams of the nuclear power industry : a review. SN Applied Sciences, 3(11). View this article in WRRO
Longhi MA, Rodríguez ED, Walkley B, Eckhard D, Zhang Z, Provis JL & Kirchheim AP (2021) Metakaolin-based geopolymers : efflorescence and its effect on microstructure and mechanical properties. Ceramics International.
Zhong M-X, Walkley B, Bailey DJ, Blackburn LR, Ding H, Wang S-Q, Bao W-C, Gardner LJ, Sun S-K, Stennett MC , Corkhill CL et al (2021) Synthesis of Ca1-xCexZrTi2-2xAl2xO7 zirconolite ceramics for plutonium disposition. Journal of Nuclear Materials, 556, 153198-153198.
Longhi MA, Zhang Z, Walkley B, Rodríguez ED & Kirchheim AP (2021) Strategies for control and mitigation of efflorescence in metakaolin-based geopolymers. Cement and Concrete Research, 144, 106431-106431.
Mostaed A, Walkley B, Hatnean MC, Balakrishnan G, Lees MR, Beanland R, Sinclair DC & Reaney IM (2021) Characterizing oxygen atoms in perovskite and pyrochlore oxides using ADF-STEM at a resolution of a few tens of picometers. Acta Materialia, 208. View this article in WRRO
Li L, Walkley B, Reaney IM & Sinclair DC (2021) The influence of Fe2O3 reagent grade purity on the electrical properties of ‘undoped’ LaFeO3 ceramics: a cautionary reminder. Journal of the European Ceramic Society.
Wang L, Geddes DA, Walkley B, Provis JL, Mechtcherine V & Tsang DCW (2020) The role of zinc in metakaolin-based geopolymers. Cement and Concrete Research, 136. View this article in WRRO
Yliniemi J, Walkley B, Provis JL, Kinnunen P & Illikainen M (2020) Influence of activator type on reaction kinetics, setting time, and compressive strength of alkali-activated mineral wools. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry. View this article in WRRO
Vasconcelos RGW, Walkley B, Day S, Tang CC, Paraskevoulakos H, Gardner LJ & Corkhill CL (2020) 18-month hydration of a low-pH cement for geological disposal of radioactive waste: The Cebama reference cement. Applied Geochemistry. View this article in WRRO
Longhi MA, Rodríguez ED, Walkley B, Zhang Z & Kirchheim AP (2020) Metakaolin-based geopolymers: Relation between formulation, physicochemical properties and efflorescence formation. Composites Part B: Engineering, 182. View this article in WRRO
Yliniemi J, Walkley B, Provis JL, Kinnunen P & Illikainen M (2020) Nanostructural evolution of alkali-activated mineral wools. Cement and Concrete Composites, 106. View this article in WRRO
Walkley B, Page SJ, Rees GJ, Provis JL & Hanna JV (2020) Nanostructure of CaO-(Na2O)-Al2O3-SiO2-H2O gels revealed by multinuclear solid-state magic angle spinning and multiple quantum magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 124(2), 1681-1694. View this article in WRRO
Walkley B, Ke X, Hussein OH, Bernal SA & Provis JL (2020) Incorporation of strontium and calcium in geopolymer gels. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 382. View this article in WRRO
Longhi MA, Walkley B, Rodríguez ED, Kirchheim AP, Zhang Z & Wang H (2019) New selective dissolution process to quantify reaction extent and product stability in metakaolin-based geopolymers. Composites Part B: Engineering, 176. View this article in WRRO
Green AC, Lath D, Hudson K, Walkley B, Down JM, Owen R, Evans HR, Paton‐Hough J, Reilly GC, Lawson MA & Chantry AD (2019) TGFβ inhibition stimulates collagen maturation to enhance bone repair and fracture resistance in a murine myeloma model. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. View this article in WRRO
Hughes CE, Walkley B, Gardner LJ, Walling SA, Bernal SA, Iuga D, Provis JL & Harris KDM (2019) Exploiting in-situ solid-state NMR spectroscopy to probe the early stages of hydration of calcium aluminate cement. Solid State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, 99(J. Magn. Reson. 57 1984), 1-6. View this article in WRRO
Prentice DP, Walkley B, Bernal SA, Bankhead M, Hayes M & Provis JL (2019) Thermodynamic modelling of BFS-PC cements under temperature conditions relevant to the geological disposal of nuclear wastes. Cement and Concrete Research, 119, 21-35. View this article in WRRO
Walkley B & Provis JL (2019) Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of cements. Materials Today Advances, 1. View this article in WRRO
Criado M, Walkley B, Ke X, Provis JL & Bernal SA (2018) Slag and Activator Chemistry Control the Reaction Kinetics of Sodium Metasilicate-Activated Slag Cements. Sustainability, 10(12). View this article in WRRO
Li X, Snellings R, Antoni M, Alderete NM, Ben Haha M, Bishnoi S, Cizer Ö, Cyr M, De Weerdt K, Dhandapani Y , Duchesne J et al (2018) Reactivity tests for supplementary cementitious materials: RILEM TC 267-TRM phase 1. Materials and Structures, 51. View this article in WRRO
Dong B, Yan J, Walkley B, Inglis KK, Blanc F, Hull S & West AR (2018) Synthesis and characterisation of the new oxyfluoride Li+ ion conductor, Li5SiO4F. Solid State Ionics, 327, 64-70. View this article in WRRO
Walkley B, Kashani A, Sani M, Ngo TD & Mendis P (2018) Examination of alkali-activated material nanostructure during thermal treatment. Journal of Materials Science, 53(13), 9486-9503. View this article in WRRO
Walkley B, Rees G, San Nicolas R, van Deventer J, Hanna J & Provis J (2018) New Structural Model of Hydrous Sodium Aluminosilicate Gels and the Role of Charge-Balancing Extra-Framework Al. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 122(10), 5673-5685. View this article in WRRO
Kashani A, Ngo TD, Walkley B & Mendis P (2017) Thermal performance of calcium-rich alkali-activated materials: A microstructural and mechanical study. Construction and Building Materials, 153, 225-237. View this article in WRRO
Walkley B, San Nicolas R, Sani MA, Bernal SA, van Deventer JSJ & Provis JL (2017) Structural evolution of synthetic alkali-activated CaO-MgO-Na2O-Al2O3-SiO2 materials is influenced by Mg content. Cement and Concrete Research, 99, 155-171. View this article in WRRO
Walkley B, San Nicolas R, Sani M-A, Gehman JD, van Deventer JSJ & Provis JL (2016) Synthesis of stoichiometrically controlled reactive aluminosilicate and calcium-aluminosilicate powders. Powder Technology, 297, 17-33. View this article in WRRO
Walkley B, San Nicolas R, Sani MA, Rees GJ, Hanna JV, van Deventer JSJ & Provis JL (2016) Phase evolution of C-(N)-A-S-H/N-A-S-H gel blends investigated via alkali-activation of synthetic calcium aluminosilicate precursors. Cement and Concrete Research, 89, 120-135. View this article in WRRO
Walkley B, San Nicolas R, Sani M-A, Gehman JD, van Deventer JSJ & Provis JL (2016) Phase evolution of Na2O–Al2O3–SiO2–H2O gels in synthetic aluminosilicate binders. Dalton Transactions, 45(13), 5521-5535. View this article in WRRO
Walkley B, Provis JL, San Nicolas R, Sani M-A & van Deventer JSJ (2015) Stoichiometrically controlled C–(A)–S–H/N–A–S–H gel blends via alkali-activation of synthetic precursors. Advances in Applied Ceramics, 114(7), 372-377. View this article in WRRO
Bernal SA, Provis JL, Walkley B, San Nicolas R, Gehman JD, Brice DG, Kilcullen AR, Duxson P & van Deventer JSJ (2013) Gel nanostructure in alkali-activated binders based on slag and fly ash, and effects of accelerated carbonation. Cement and Concrete Research, 53, 127-144.
Tan Y, Gardner LJ, Walkley B, Hussein OH, Ding H, Sun S, Yu H & Hyatt NC () Optimization of Magnesium Potassium Phosphate Cements Using Ultrafine Fly Ash and Fly Ash. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering.
Kearney S, Robshaw TJ, Turner J, Sharrad CA, Walkley B & Ogden MD () Encapsulation of iodine-loaded metallated silica materials by a geopolymer matrix. MRS Advances.
Fisher AJ, Ding H, Rajbhandari P, Walkley B, Blackburn LR, Stennett MC, Hand RJ, Hyatt NC, Harrison MT & Corkhill CL () Chemical structure and dissolution behaviour of CaO and ZnO containing alkali-borosilicate glass. Materials Advances.
Luukkonen T, Yliniemi J, Walkley B, Geddes D, Griffith B, Hanna JV, Provis JL, Kinnunen P & Illikainen M () Characterization of an aged alkali-activated slag roof tile after 30 years of exposure to Northern Scandinavian weather. RSC Advances, 12(40), 25822-25832.
Manning JRH, Walkley B, Provis JL & Patwardhan SV () Mimicking Biosintering: The Identification of Highly Condensed Surfaces in Bioinspired Silica Materials. Langmuir. View this article in WRRO
Walkley B, Ke X, Hussein O & Provis JL () Thermodynamic properties of sodium aluminosilicate hydrate (N–A–S–H). Dalton Transactions.
Walkley B, Ke X, Provis JL & Bernal SA () Activator Anion Influences the Nanostructure of Alkali-Activated Slag Cements. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C.

Chapters

Kearney S, Yorkshire AS, Geddes DA, Hanein T, Nelson S, Provis JL & Walkley B (2022) Cement-based stabilization/solidification of radioactive waste, Low Carbon Stabilization and Solidification of Hazardous Wastes (pp. 407-431). Elsevier
Walkley B (2018) Geopolymers, Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series (pp. 406-407). Springer International Publishing
Walkley B (2018) Geopolymers, Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series (pp. 1-2). Springer International Publishing
San Nicolas RVR, Walkley B & van Deventer JSJ (2017) Fly ash-based geopolymer chemistry and behavior, Coal Combustion Products (CCP's) (pp. 185-214). Elsevier View this article in WRRO
Adams T, Amaya P, Bentz DP, Bittner JD, Bittner A, Blythe GM, Bradley LJN, Butalia T, Carriker NE, Castleman J , Csetenyi LJ et al (2017) List of contributors, Coal Combustion Products (CCP's) (pp. xi-xii). Elsevier

Conference proceedings papers

Matsuda T, Mine R, Geddes DA, Walkley B & Provis JL (2022) Development of ultra-low shrinkage and high strength concrete without Portland cement with experimental study on its fabrication. fib Symposium (pp 763-772)
Matsuda T, Sakamoto R, Geddes DA, Walkley B & Provis JL (2021) An experimental study on shrinkage and mechanical properties of ultra-low shrinkage and high strength zero-cement concrete. fib Symposium, Vol. 2021-June (pp 729-738)
Matsuda T, Geddes DA, Walkley B & Provis JL (2020) Properties and micro strucure of ultralow shrinkage and high strength zero-cement-concrete. Proceedings of the fib Symposium 2020: Concrete Structures for Resilient Society (pp 76-83)
Matsuda T, Geddes DA, Walkley B & Provis JL (2020) Properties and micro strucure of ultralow shrinkage and high strength zero-cement-concrete. fib Symposium (pp 76-83)
Patwardhan S, Manning J, Jorge M, Centi A, Walkley B & Provis J (2019) Understanding interfacial interactions to unlock the potential of bioinspired nanomaterials. ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, Vol. 258

Preprints

Ogden MD, Robshaw TJ, Kearney S, Turner JR, Simoni M, Baidak A, Sharrad CA & Walkley B (2022) Radioiodine Abatement – Development of Radioiodine Targeting Strategies in the Light of Zero Emission, SSRN Electronic Journal.
Mostaed A, Walkley B, Hatnean MC, Balakrishnan G, Lees MR, Beanland R, Sinclair DC & Reaney IM (2020) Characterizing oxygen atoms in perovskite and pyrochlore oxides using ADF-STEM at a resolution of a few tens of picometers, arXiv.

Research group

Postdoctoral Research Associates:

Dr Dan Geddes, Research into the development and chemistry of sustainable cement and concrete materials (Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co Ltd)
Dr Maryam Derkani, Developing additives to improve durability and engineering properties of alkali-activated materials (KTP Associate, Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership w/ Lubrizol Ltd.)
Dr Sarah Kearney, Advanced Fuel Cycle Programme: Iodine abatement in irradiated nuclear fuel recycling (Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy)

PhD researchers:

Madeline Rihner, Life Cycle Assessment of Sustainable Cement (Energy Institute & EPSRC)
Ella Cliff, Understanding reaction mechanisms, kinetics and structural evolution in low-carbon cements (EPSRC)
Charlotte Nevin, Resolving reaction mechanisms, kinetics and mass transport in radionuclide-loaded geopolymer cement wasteforms (GREEN CDT (EPSRC) & Sellafield Ltd)
Kyle O'Donoghue, Geopolymer reaction mechanisms and kinetics for immobilisation of radioactive waste (EPSRC)
Laura Stefanini, Designing alkali-activated materials with maximised recycled content (URBCON, NWE Interreg)
Cassandre Le Galliard, Control of carbonation in next-generation sustainable alkali-activated material concretes (Marie Sklodowska-Curie ITN DuRSAAM)
Tamara Chidiac, Service life models for alkali-activated material concretes (Marie Sklodowska-Curie ITN DuRSAAM)
James Watt, Designing new materials for next-generation Li ion batteries (National Science Foundation, as part of the Center for Dielectrics and Piezoelectrics Grant Nos. IIP-1841453 and IIP-1841466)
Adetona Ademola, Designing new materials for next-generation Na ion batteries (Tertiary Education Trust Fund)

Alumni:

2020/21 MEng researchers

Laura Carter, Surface interactions in organic/inorganic mixtures in sustainable alkali-activated cements
Ella Cliff, Carbonation-induced nanostructural changes in alkali-activated cements
Kyle O'Donoghue, Reaction mechanisms and kinetics of radionuclide-loaded cement wasteforms
Gregory Ouseley, Low-carbon solidification and stabilisation of radioactive/toxic waste
Tomas Jessiman-Meijer, Low-carbon solidification and stabilisation of radioactive/toxic waste
Luke Cartwright, Low-carbon solidification and stabilisation of radioactive/toxic waste
Matthew Kilborn, Low-carbon solidification and stabilisation of radioactive/toxic waste
Adam Perkins, Low-carbon solidification and stabilisation of radioactive/toxic waste
Gregory Walker, Low-carbon solidification and stabilisation of radioactive/toxic waste

2019/20 MEng researchers

Taha Giurani, Understanding the nanostructure of radionuclide-loaded cement wasteforms
Sean Neary, Determining radionuclide retention in loaded cementitious wasteforms
Robert Peyton, Resolving the microstructure, morphology and phase assemblage of radionuclide-loaded cement wasteforms
Hashim Rehman, Reaction mechanisms and kinetics of radionuclide-loaded cement wasteforms
Befekadu Semeneh, Determining the encapsulation limit in radionuclide-loaded cement wasteforms

Recruitment:

I'm always keen to support people who are passionate about the development of sustainable materials, chemical engineering, materials chemistry and science and engineering more generally. Prospective PhD/PDRA/Research Fellows are encouraged to send me an expression of interest along with their CV. There are a number of scholarship schemes through which prospective PhD researchers can apply for PhD funding, as well as schemes to support postdoctoral and research fellows, and I will gladly support talented individuals in these applications for projects which align with the broad research themes below.

Materials for sustainable infrastructure
Materials for environmental remediation
Materials for sustainable energy production and storage

Prospective PhD/PDRA/Research Fellows who have already secured funding are also very welcome to propose their own research ideas.

Grants

Current grants

2021 - Life cycle assessment of sustainable cement (EPSRC and Energy Institute)
2021 - Understanding reaction mechanisms, kinetics and structural evolution in low-carbon cements (EPSRC)
2021 - Reaction mechanisms and kinetics in geopolymer cements for radioactive waste disposal (EPSRC, GREEN CDT w/ Sellafield Ltd.)
2020 - Enhancing analytical capabilities in soils for low-carbon technologies (White Rose Collaboration Fund)
2020 - Iodine abatement in irradiated nuclear fuel recycling (Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy)
2019 - Developing additives to improve durability and engineering properties of alkali-activated materials (Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership w/ Lubrizol Ltd.)

2018 - Research into the development and chemistry of sustainable cement and concrete materials (Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co Ltd)

Professional activities and recognition

Associate Member, Institute of Chemical Engineers
Affiliate Member of RILEM (Member of Technical Committees TC-267 TRM and TC-281 CCC)
Editorial Panel Member of ICE Construction Materials
Guest Editor, Frontiers in Built Environment
Guest Editor, Sustainability
Invited Expert Panel Member of Net Zero: Decarbonising Construction, UK Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
Invited reviewer for more than 340 international journals
Undergraduate Teaching Award recipient, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, 2020
Development Opportunity Award recipient, 2018 and 2019
First Prize, 6th Early Career Presentation Contest, World Materials Research Institute Forum, 2018
Dedicated Outstanding Thesis Mentor Award recipient, 2017 and 2018
Learned Society Fund Award recipient, 2017, 2018 and 2019
Environmental Mineralogy Group Early Career Researcher Bursary recipient, 2017
The Deal Recognition Award recipient, 2017
The University of Melbourne MATS scholar, 2015
Best Tutor Award, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Melbourne, 2015
The University of Melbourne PORES scholar, 2014
Australian Ceramic Society Bursary recipient, 2014
Best Paper - First Prize, 34th Annual Cement and Concrete Science Conference, 2014
Australian Research Council Special Research Centre PFPC Travel Grant recipient, 2013 and 2014
Australian Research Council APA scholar, 2012 – 2016