Professor Beverley J Inkson (she/her)

MA PhD (Cantab) FIMMM

School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering

Professor of Nanostructured Materials

Beverley Inkson
Profile picture of Beverley Inkson
beverley.inkson@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 5925

Full contact details

Professor Beverley J Inkson
School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering
Sir Robert Hadfield Building
Mappin Street
Sheffield
S1 3JD
Profile

Beverley Inkson is Professor of Nanostructured Materials and Director of the Sheffield NanoLAB. Previously she obtained her MA (Physics) and PhD (Aerospace Alloys) at The University of Cambridge, was a Research Fellow at the Max Planck Institute, Germany, and a Royal Society URF in Nanomechanics at the University of Oxford.

Beverley is currently Chair of the Engineering and Physical Sciences section of The Royal Microscopical Society, and Director of the PicoFIB International Network for Gas-Ion Microscopy.

Research interests

Advanced structural materials
We focus on improving the microstructure of structural/functional materials down to the nanoscale, generating better mechanical strength and tribology (low friction and reduced wear), and thereby improving product lifetime and energy consumption. Applications include ceramic/metal composites (e.g. bearings, hips, oral implants), additive manufactured components and hierarchical battery electrodes.

In-situ/in Operando Materials Characterisation
We are pioneering research into new technologies that enable materials to be tested inside electron/ion microscopes (FIB/SEM/TEM), so that their mechanical and electrical properties can be measured at the same time as they are imaged with detail 1000x better than the human eye. These in-situ/in operando methods (sometimes called ‘4D’ = 3D + time) give us new information on how materials and devices behave, stick together (welding) and fail in the micro-nanoscale dimensions, leading to opportunities for better system design e.g. of electronics and batteries.

Advanced Materials Characterisation
We are continually developing materials characterisation techniques to evaluate the 3D structure of materials for a wide range of industrial and environmental applications. We have particular expertise in 3D imaging/tomography (FIB, TEM), nanomechanics (manipulation, nanoindentation), nano-microscale tribology (friction, wear, surface profilometry/interferometry), and advanced electron/ion microscopy (FIB/SEM/TEM). We lead the PicoFIB International Network for development of Gas-Ion Microscopy.


Key projects/applications

  • 3D FIB/Xray tomography of defect geometries in structural ceramics (EPSRC/SKF Ltd)
  • Dynamical mechanisms of particle flow and tribological processes (EPSRC Friction Programme Grant https://friction.org.uk/)
  • Solving the puzzle of friction variability in semiconductor chip manufacturing (EPSRC iT-CDT/ASML Ltd)
  • Improving the surface condition and tribology of Additive Manufacture alloys (Turkish Government)
  • The PicoFIB International Network for Gas-Ion Microscopy (Leverhulme Trust)
  • Nanoscale evaluation of air pollution particulates (The Grantham Institute)
  • Nanostructured Li-ion Battery anodes (EPSRC ESA-CDT)
  • Nanostructured Li-ion Battery cathodes (EPSRC ESA-CDT/Johnson Matthey)
  • Tribology of oral care products (EPSRC/Unilever Plc)

Research Links

Publications

Journal articles

Book chapters

Conference proceedings

  • Dost R, Allwood DA & Inkson BJ (2017) Temperature dependence of electrical properties of electrodeposited Ni-based nanowires. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, Vol. 902(1). Manchester, UK, 3 July 2017 - 3 July 2017. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Asghar MSA, Inkson B & Möbus G (2017) Ceria-Water-Reactions Studied by Liquid Cell TEM. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, Vol. 902(012004). Manchester, UK, 3 July 2017 - 3 July 2017. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Baquero T, Shukrallah S, Karolia R, Osammor O & Inkson BJ (2015) Quantification of airborne road-side pollution carbon nanoparticles. ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND ANALYSIS GROUP CONFERENCE (EMAG2015), Vol. 644 View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Butterworth J, Briston K, Claeyssens F & Inkson BJ (2015) Nanodiamond stability with friction and heat. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, Vol. 644 (pp 012022-012022) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Peng Y, Cullis T & Inkson BJ (2010) Electrical Nanowelding and Bottom-Up Nano-Construction Together Using Nanoscale Solder. JOURNAL OF NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY, Vol. 10(11) (pp 7394-7397) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Mu X, Peng Y, Gnanavel T, Inkson BJ & Mobus G (2010) Nanoporous structures from anodisation of non-planar aluminium surfaces. ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND ANALYSIS GROUP CONFERENCE 2009 (EMAG 2009), Vol. 241 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Jepson MAE, Khan K, Hayward TJ, Inkson BJ & Rodenburg C (2010) The Effect of Oxidation and Carbon Contamination on SEM Dopant Contrast. ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND ANALYSIS GROUP CONFERENCE 2009 (EMAG 2009), Vol. 241 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Inkson BJ, Liu X, Peng Y, Jepson MAE & Rodenburg C (2010) Comparison of multilayered nanowire imaging by SEM and Helium Ion Microscopy. ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND ANALYSIS GROUP CONFERENCE 2009 (EMAG 2009), Vol. 241 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Peng Y, Cullis AG & Inkson BJ (2010) Nanoconstruction by welding individual metallic nanowires together using nanoscale solder. ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND ANALYSIS GROUP CONFERENCE 2009 (EMAG 2009), Vol. 241 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Rodenburg C, Jepson MAE, Inkson BJ, Bosch EGT & Humphreys CJ (2010) Energy Filtered Scanning Electron Microscopy: applications to characterisation of semiconductors. ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND ANALYSIS GROUP CONFERENCE 2009 (EMAG 2009), Vol. 241 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Gnanavel T, Saghi Z, Yajid MAM, Peng Y, Inkson BJ, Gibbs MRJ & Mobus G (2010) Nanoscale sculpting of ferromagnetic structures by electron beam ablation. ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND ANALYSIS GROUP CONFERENCE 2009 (EMAG 2009), Vol. 241 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Rodenburg C, Jepson MAE, Inkson BJ & Liu X (2010) Dopant Contrast in the Helium Ion Microscope: Contrast Mechanism. ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND ANALYSIS GROUP CONFERENCE 2009 (EMAG 2009), Vol. 241 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Briston KJ, Cullis AG & Inkson BJ (2010) Development of a novel SEM microgripper. ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND ANALYSIS GROUP CONFERENCE 2009 (EMAG 2009), Vol. 241 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Guan W, Lockwood AJ, Inkson BJ & Moebus G (2010) A Piezoelectric Goniometer Inside a TEM Goniometer. Microscopy and Microanalysis, Vol. 2(16) (pp 1784-1785) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Devaprakasam D, Hatton PV, Moebus G & Inkson BJ (2008) Nanomechanical and nanotribological properties of nano- and microparticle filled polymer composites used for dental restorative applications. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ASME/STLE INTERNATIONAL JOINT TRIBOLOGY CONFERENCE, PTS A AND B (pp 821-825) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Lockwood AJ, Wang JJ, Gay R & Inkson BJ (2008) Characterising performance of TEM compatible nano manipulation slip-stick inertial sliders against gravity - art. no. 012096. EMAG: ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND ANALYSIS GROUP CONFERENCE 2007, Vol. 126 (pp 12096-12096) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Elfallagh FA & Inkson BJ (2008) 3D tomographic analysis of crack morphologies in alumina and glass using FIB microscopy - art. no. 012080. EMAG: ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND ANALYSIS GROUP CONFERENCE 2007, Vol. 126 (pp 12080-12080) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wang JJ, Lockwood AJ, Gay R & Inkson BJ (2008) Characterising ambient and vacuum performance of a miniaturised TEM nanoindenter for in-situ material deformation - art. no. 012095. EMAG: ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND ANALYSIS GROUP CONFERENCE 2007, Vol. 126 (pp 12095-12095) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Devaprakasam D, Hatton PV, Mobus G & Inkson BJ (2008) Effect of microstructure of nano- and micro-particle filled polymer composites on their tribo-mechanical performance - art. no. 012057. EMAG: ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND ANALYSIS GROUP CONFERENCE 2007, Vol. 126 (pp 12057-12057) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Gnanavel T, Peng Y, Xu X, Inkson BJ, Gibbs MRJ & Mobus G (2008) Ni and W nanotips: Fabrication and characterisation - art. no. 012071. EMAG: ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND ANALYSIS GROUP CONFERENCE 2007, Vol. 126 (pp 12071-12071) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Peng Y, Luxmoore I, Forster MD, Cullis AG & Inkson BJ (2008) Nanomanipulation and Electrical Behaviour of a Single Gold Nanowire Using In-situ SEM-FIB-Nanomanipulators - art. no. 012031. EMAG: ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND ANALYSIS GROUP CONFERENCE 2007, Vol. 126 (pp 12031-12031) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Zeng P, Inkson BJ, Rainforth WM & Stewart T (2008) 3D Surface Reconstruction and FIB Microscopy of Worn Alumina Hip Prostheses - art. no. 012044. EMAG: ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND ANALYSIS GROUP CONFERENCE 2007, Vol. 126 (pp 12044-12044) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Devaprakasam D, Hatton PV, Moebus G & Inkson BJ (2008) COLL 310-Nanoscale energy dissipation mechanisms of nanoparticles, nanocomposites and self-assembled monolayer. ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, Vol. 235 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Devaprakasam D, Hatton PV, Moebus G & Inkson BJ (2008) Effect of nano-fillers on the mechanical performance of polymer composites used in dental applications. 8th World Biomaterials Congress 2008, Vol. 4 (pp 1849) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Lockwood AJ & Inkson BJ (2008) In-situ TEM nanoindentation and deformation of Si-nanoparticle clusters. Proc. EMC2008, Vol. 6(2) (pp 497) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Xu XJ, Lockwood A, Gay R, Wang JJ, Peng Y, Inkson BJ & Moebus BJ (2008) A full tilt range goniometer inside a TEM goniometer. Proc. EMC2008(1) (pp 315). Aachen RIS download Bibtex download
  • Lockwood AJ, Bunyan RJT & Inkson BJ (2008) In-situ TEM mechanical testing of a Si MEMS nanobridge. Proc. EMC2008, Vol. 6(2) (pp 495). Aachen RIS download Bibtex download
  • Zeng P, Inkson BJ & Rainforth WM (2006) Characterisation of alumina nip-joint wear by FIB microscopy. EMAG-NANO 2005: Imaging, Analysis and Fabrication on the Nanoscale, Vol. 26 (pp 343-346) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Inkson BJ, Leclere D, Elfallagh F & Derby B (2006) The effect of focused ion beam machining on residual stress and crack morphologies in alumina. EMAG-NANO 2005: Imaging, Analysis and Fabrication on the Nanoscale, Vol. 26 (pp 219-222) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Inkson BJ, Olsen S, Norris DJ, O'Neill AG & Mobus G (2003) 3D determination of a MOSFET gate morphology by FIB tomography. MICROSCOPY OF SEMICONDUCTING MATERIALS 2003(180) (pp 611-616) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Mobus G, Doole RC & Inkson BJ (2003) Nanoscale 3D chemical mapping by spectroscopic electron tomography. SPATIALLY RESOLVED CHARACTERIZATION OF LOCAL PHENOMENA IN MATERIALS AND NANOSTRUCTURES, Vol. 738 (pp 15-20) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Langford RM, Inkson B, Moebus G & Titchmarsh JM (2001) 3-dimensional reconstruction from a sequential set of focus ion beam milled 2-dimensional cross-sections. ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND ANALYSIS 2001(168) (pp 135-138) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Mobus G & Inkson BJ (2001) Element specific nanoscale electron tomography. ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND ANALYSIS 2001(168) (pp 267-270) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Inkson BJ, Spolenak R & Wagner T (1999) Sigma 3 twin growth in Al thin films on Al2O3 observed by FIB microscopy. ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND ANALYSIS 1999(161) (pp 335-338) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Steer J & Inkson BJ (1999) Microstructure of high strength TiN/TiBx multilayered ceramic coatings. ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND ANALYSIS 1999(161) (pp 405-408) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Inkson BJ & Threadgill PL (1998) Friction welding of FeAl40 grade 3 ODS alloy. MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING A-STRUCTURAL MATERIALS PROPERTIES MICROSTRUCTURE AND PROCESSING, Vol. 258(1-2) (pp 313-318) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Mobus G, Hytch M, Inkson B, Wagner T & Ruhle M (1998) Determination of the coherency-level of hetero-interfaces by HREM. ELECTRON MICROSCOPY 1998, VOL 1 (pp 159-160) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Inkson BJ & Threadgill PL (1997) Y2O3 morphology in an oxide dispersion strengthened FeAl alloy prepared by mechanical alloying. HIGH-TEMPERATURE ORDERED INTERMETALLIC ALLOYS VII, Vol. 460 (pp 767-772) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Inkson BJ, Mobus G & Ruhle M (1997) Atomic-resolution electron microscopy of TiB2 precipitates in an industrial TiAl alloy. ATOMIC RESOLUTION MICROSCOPY OF SURFACES AND INTERFACES, Vol. 466 (pp 151-156) RIS download Bibtex download
  • INKSON BJ & HUMPHREYS CJ (1995) AN HREM INVESTIGATION OF A [1(2)OVER-BAR-1]L1O BOUNDARY IN TIAL. HIGH-TEMPERATURE ORDERED INTERMETALLIC ALLOYS VI, PTS 1 AND 2, Vol. 364 (pp 605-610) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Inkson BJ & Humphreys CJ (1995) HREM observation of omega-phase in an industrial TiAl alloy. ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND ANALYSIS 1995, Vol. 147 (pp 547-550) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Inkson BJ & Boothroyd CB (1995) The B2->alpha(2) transformation in an industrial gamma+alpha(2)+B2 TiAl alloy. ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND ANALYSIS 1995, Vol. 147 (pp 543-546) RIS download Bibtex download
  • INKSON BJ & HUMPHREYS CJ (1994) An HREM study of 1/6<112> intrinsic dipole formation in a Ti-Al alloy. ELECTRON MICROSCOPY 1994, VOLS 2A AND 2B (pp 83-84) RIS download Bibtex download
  • INKSON BJ, BOOTHROYD CB & HUMPHREYS CJ (1993) BORON SEGREGATION IN A (FE, V, B) TIAL BASED ALLOY. JOURNAL DE PHYSIQUE IV, Vol. 3(C7) (pp 397-402) RIS download Bibtex download
  • INKSON BJ (1993) A HREM INVESTIGATION OF DISLOCATION PINNING BY 1/6[112]DIPOLES. ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND ANALYSIS 1993(138) (pp 441-444) RIS download Bibtex download

Preprints

Research group

PDRA/PhD:

  • Adam Baggott (FIB/Xray Tomography of structural ceramics)
  • Dr Mingwen Bai (Mechanics/in-situ SEM of structural composites)
  • Arron Bird (Mechanics/in-situ SEM of ceramics)
  • Carlos Brambila Renteria (Lead Dr Moebus)
  • Idris Gulenc (Tribology of Additive Manufacture alloys)
  • Kirsi Leinonen (Co-ordinator PicoFIB)
  • Maria del Carmen Redondo Bermudez (Lead Prof Jorgenson)
  • Connor Smyth (Nanostructured Li-ion Battery anodes)
  • Laura Wheatcroft (Nanostructured Li-ion Battery cathodes)

Project students:

  • Jiayu Li (Surface patterning of ceramics)
  • Lun Luo (Surface patterning of ceramics)
  • Harry Unsworth (Processing of Li-ion Battery cathodes)
Professional activities and memberships
  • Director of International PicoFIB network – Gas-Ion Beam Microscopy (2017-)
  • Chair of the Engineering and Physical Sciences section of The Royal Microscopical Society (2015-)
  • Governing Council Member, The Royal Microscopical Society (2015-)
  • Scientific Organising Committee mmc2017, mmc2019
  • EPSRC Peer Review College
  • Director of MSE Bronze Athena Swan Award (2013) & MSE Silver Athena Swan Award (2016)
  • Visiting Distinguished Professor, School of Physical Science and Technology Lanzhou University (2013-2016)
  • Editorial Advisory Board of the Journal Materials Characterisation (2007-19)
  • Member: RMS, IOM3, IOP
  • Director of the RCUK Basic Technology programme in Nanorobotics (2005-13)
  • Director of the Sheffield NanoLAB
  • IOM3 Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology committee
  • Director UK NanoFIB network – Focused Ion Beam Microscopy (2001-07)
Women in Engineering

We interviewed Beverley for the Faculty of Engineering's Wall of Women about how she found herself working in an Engineering discipline. Here's Beverley's interview:


The Wall of Women profiles were taken over a 4/5 year time period and are a snapshot of what our engineers were doing at that time.