Ferroelectric materials such as lead zirconate titanate consist of small domains, each having the electrical polarisation and its associated distortion of the crystallographic unit cell along a different direction. How these domains meet up controls the macroscopic, technologically important properties. Despite their commercial importance, there remains much that is not known about this local crystallography in such materials and how it affects the macroscopic properties. Recent studies by the present applicant have also revealed the presence of large internal stresses around multidomain junctions in such materials, peaking at over 1GPa, and it is clear that such high stress concentrations will have a significant influence on both the piezoelectric properties, as well as the susceptibility to fatigue of a material via microcracking. The ideal method for the determination of the local crystallography and stress concentrations is the generation of crystallographic orientation maps using the automated indexing of Kikuchi diffraction patterns from the transmission electron microscope. Such a methodology has recently become available due to the computerisation of TEM control software, and the development of software for the automatic indexing of Kikuchi patterns. The wealth of information from the resulting orientation maps will be used to determine local crystallographic parameters including unit cell distortion and for phase identification in multiphase compositions, as well as the quantification of stress concentrations at specific points in the microstructure. The resulting data will then be discussed with the materials manufacturers in order to understand how the local crystallography and local stress concentrations are affecting the piezoelectric properties of materials and their mechanical fatigue behaviour on extended electromechanical cycling.

Reducing carbon emissions and securing energy supplies are crucial international goals to which energy demand reduction must make a major contribution. On a national level, demand reduction, deployment of new and renewable energy technologies, and decarbonisation of the energy supply are essential if the UK is to meet its legally binding carbon reduction targets. As a result, this area is an important theme within the EPSRC's strategic plan, but one that suffers from historical underinvestment and a serious shortage of appropriately skilled researchers. Major energy demand reductions are required within the working lifetime of Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) graduates, i.e. by 2050. Students will thus have to be capable of identifying and undertaking research that will have an impact within their 35 year post-doctoral career. The challenges will be exacerbated as our population ages, as climate change advances and as fuel prices rise: successful demand reduction requires both detailed technical knowledge and multi-disciplinary skills. The DTC will therefore span the interfaces between traditional disciplines to develop a training programme that teaches the context and process-bound problems of technology deployment, along with the communication and leadership skills needed to initiate real change within the tight time scale required. It will be jointly operated by University College London (UCL) and Loughborough University (LU); two world-class centres of energy research. Through the cross-faculty Energy Institute at UCL and Sustainability Research School at LU, over 80 academics have been identified who are able and willing to supervise DTC students. These experts span the full range of necessary disciplines from science and engineering to ergonomics and design, psychology and sociology through to economics and politics. The reputation of the universities will enable them to attract the very best students to this research area.The DTC will begin with a 1 year joint MRes programme followed by a 3 year PhD programme including a placement abroad and the opportunity for each DTC student to employ an undergraduate intern to assist them. Students will be trained in communication methods and alternative forms of public engagement. They will thus understand the energy challenges faced by the UK, appreciate the international energy landscape, develop people-management and communication skills, and so acquire the competence to make a tangible impact. An annual colloquium will be the focal point of the DTC year acting as a show-case and major mechanism for connection to the wider stakeholder community.The DTC will be led by internationally eminent academics (Prof Robert Lowe, Director, and Prof Kevin J Lomas, Deputy Director), together they have over 50 years of experience in this sector. They will be supported by a management structure headed by an Advisory Board chaired by Pascal Terrien, Director of the European Centre and Laboratories for Energy Efficiency Research and responsible for the Demand Reduction programme of the UK Energy Technology Institute. This will help secure the international, industrial and UK research linkages of the DTC.Students will receive a stipend that is competitive with other DTCs in the energy arena and, for work in certain areas, further enhancement from industrial sponsors. They will have a personal annual research allowance, an excellent research environment and access to resources. Both Universities are committed to energy research at the highest level, and each has invested over 3.2M in academic appointments, infrastructure development and other support, specifically to the energy demand reduction area. Each university will match the EPSRC funded studentships one-for-one, with funding from other sources. This DTC will therefore train at least 100 students over its 8 year life.