James Steele

My research involves characterisation of novel structures, and developing understanding of structure-property relationships in solid state materials, in particular energy materials. I enjoy working on a range of systems, and have worked on Li-ion/Na-ion cathodes, rare-earth double-perovskites for cryogenic magnetocalorics, and silver-strontium ferrite perovskites for catalysis. I utilise a complementary suite of bulk and local probe experimental techniques, to develop a wholistic understanding of the links between ordered/disordered structures, and their macroscopic properties. These include: synchrotron x-ray and neutron powder diffraction, total scattering (X/N-Pair Distribution Function), x-ray absorption (XANES/EXAFS), SQUID magnetometry, and solid state nuclear magnetic resonance/muon Spin relaxation spectroscopies.

I completed my PhD research at the University of Cambridge, entitled "Electrochemical Structural Evolution of NaxNiO2 Cathodes for Sodium-ion Batteries", co-supervised by Prof. Dame Clare Grey in Chemistry, and Prof. Siân Dutton in Physics.