Prof John Irvine (CBE, FRSE, FRSC), will lead WP 4. He has made a unique and world-leading contribution to the science of energy materials, especially fuel cell and energy conversion technologies. This research has ranged from detailed fundamental to strategic and applied science and has had major impact across academia, industry and government. Prof Irvine’s science is highly interdisciplinary extending from Chemistry and Materials through physics, bioenergy, geoscience, engineering, economics and policy.

His research interests are in the study of inorganic materials, at the interface between solid state chemistry, condensed matter physics and ceramics. Prof Irvine has a strong background in the interdisciplinary subject of solid-state electrochemistry. He obtained his BSc in Chemical Physics, his D.Phil in photoelectrochemistry and performed his post-doctoral studies investigating alkali-conducting oxides.