The European Ceramic Society

Laboratory sheet

UK

Advanced Materials Laboratory

Studies on processing, microstructures and properties of structural and functional ceramic materials

Director : Shaowei Zhang & Yanqiu Zhu

Email : s.zhang@exeter.ac.uk ; y.zhu@exeter.ac.uk

Phone : +44 01392 725276 or +44 01392 723620

Address : College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Science, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QF, UK

Website : : http://emps.exeter.ac.uk/engineering/staff/sz268 ; http://emps.exeter.ac.uk/engineering/staff/yz329

Research topics :

  • R & D of oxide and oxide-carbon refractory composites

Contact name : Shaowei Zhang

Tel : +44 1392 725276

Email: s.zhang@exeter.ac.uk

  • Novel synthesis of 2D ceramics and quantum dots

Contact name : Shaowei Zhang

Tel : +44 1392 725276

Email: s.zhang@exeter.ac.uk

  • Low temperature preparation of ceramic powders and coatings

Contact name : Shaowei Zhang

Tel : +44 1392 725276

Email: s.zhang@exeter.ac.uk

  • Low temperature catalytic preparation of ceramics

Contact name : Shaowei Zhang

Tel : +44 1392 725276

Email: s.zhang@exeter.ac.uk

  • Preparation and characterisation of porous ceramics

Contact name : Shaowei Zhang

Tel : +44 1392 725276

Email: s.zhang@exeter.ac.uk

  • Nanofibre reinforced ceramic-matrix nanocomposites

Contact name : Yanqiu Zhu & Shaowei Zhang

Tel : +44 1392 723620

Email: y.zhu@exeter.ac.uk; s.zhang@exeter.ac.uk

  • Fabrication and characterisation of ceramic nanofibers

Contact name : Yanqiu Zhu a& Shaowei Zhang

Tel : +44 1392 723620

Email: y.zhu@exeter.ac.uk; s.zhang@exeter.ac.uk

  • Creation and application of 3D lightweight ceramic foams

Contact name : Yanqiu Zhu

Tel : +44 1392 723620

Email: y.zhu@exeter.ac.uk

  • Design, synthesis and characterisation of novel nanostructured porous/functional materials for catalysis, and energy storage and conversion

Contact name : Yongde Xia

Tel : +44 01392 723683

Email: y.xia@exeter.ac.uk

Exceptional facilities :

  • Hot-press and high temperature furnaces
  • CVD furnaces
  • Microstructural characterisation facility: XRD, FT-IR, UV/Vis, HRSEM/TEM, EDX, Raman, Micro-CT, and AFM
  • Zeta potential analyser and BET
  • Thermal analysis facility: TGA/DSC coupled with mass spectroscopy, dilatometer and thermal conductivity instrument
  • Mechanical testing machines

Financial support programmes :

  • National fundings : EPSRC, Royal Society, NERC
  • European fundings : Horizon 2020
  • Regional fundings : KTP, The Leverhulme Trust, and industrial fundings

Latest news

YCN Newsletter 27 - YCN Committee member - Welcome to Aleksandra Milojkovic

It is a true honor to introduce myself as the new Committee Member of the Young Ceramists Network.

Jun 26, 2025
YCN Newsletter 27 - Expert opinion - Nicola Döbelin, PhD

Why Crystal Structure Matters: Decoding the Performance of Calcium Phosphate Biomaterials

In the world of calcium phosphate biomaterials, crystal structure is often the silent driver behind a material’s success—or failure. Whether we are developing bone graft substitutes or studying bioceramic interactions at the tissue interface, understanding the underlying crystal lattice isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.

Jun 24, 2025

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ECerS coordinates and promotes the study of ceramics through the following actions :

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Av. Gouverneur Cornez , 4

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