The University of Sheffield
Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Professor Neil C Hyatt

Professor N C Hyatt

PhD BSc
Professor of Nuclear Materials Chemistry
Royal Academy of Engineering and Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Research Chair
Director, Immobilisation Science Laboratory
Co-Director, Nuclear FiRST Doctoral Training Centre

Address:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Sir Robert Hadfield Building
Mappin Street, Sheffield, S1 3JD

Telephone: +44 (0) 114 222 5470
Fax: +44 (0) 114 222 5943

Email: n.c.hyatt@sheffield.ac.uk

Neil Hyatt was appointed as Lecturer in Materials Chemistry in October 2003 and promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2009, and Reader in 2011. He was appointed to the Royal Academy of Engineering and Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Research Chair in Radioactive Waste Management.

Previously, Neil held appointments as Senior Research Fellow in the BNFL Immobilisation Science laboratory in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at The University of Sheffield (2002 - 2003), Senior Development Analyst at the London & Scandinavian Metallurgical Co. Ltd (2000 - 2002), and Postdoctoral Research Associate in the School of Chemistry at The University of Birmingham (1999 - 2000).

Neil was awarded his PhD. from The University of Birmingham in 2000, with a thesis entitled "A Study of Structure - Property Relations in Layered Copper Oxides". He graduated from the same University in 1996 with a first class BSc (Hons) in Chemistry.

Research interests

Immobilisation of nuclear waste materials.
Research is focussed on the design, processing and performance of glass and ceramic materials for the immobilisation of nuclear wastes. Present research themes include the immobilisation of surplus/waste plutonium in tailored ceramic hosts, structure-property relations in nuclear waste glasses, immobilisation of legacy intermediate level wastes, and materials performance in disposal environments. We work closely with industrial organisations, including the National Nuclear :aboratory, NDA, Magnox South Sites and the Atomic Weapons Establishment, to address issues of basic science and practical engineering.

Radiation damage in nuclear materials.
Research is focused on the impact of radiation damage on rate and mechanism of radionuclide release from ceramic wasteforms for actinide disposal. Our approach uses both in-active analogue studies combining ex-situ ion implantation with surface characterisation techniques, and study of Pu-238 and Pu-239 doped materials at the Institute for Trans-Uranium Elements.

Structure-property relations in mixed metal oxides.
Research is focused on the study of structure-property relationships in perovskite related oxides showing a range of useful physical properties such as high temperature superconductivity, colossal magnetoresistance and anisotropic magnetic exchange. Recent work has investigated structure-property relationships in layered perovskite ferroelectrric oxides and oxide-fluorides.

Nuclear FiRST Doctoral Training Centre.
This new national training centre for doctoral scientists and engineers in nuclear fission science and technology was established with a £7.1M investment from EPSRC, awarded to Prof. Francis Livens (Director, The University of Manchester) and Dr Neil Hyatt (Co-Director, The University of Sheffield). Nuclear FiRST aims to underpin UK Energy and Defence strategy by addressing a growing doctoral skills gap in nuclear fission science and engineering. We offer an exciting and interdisciplinary approach to postgraduate research training, combining a Masters level foundation year with a three year Doctoral level thesis project. This is supplemented by training in professional skills and project placements in industry or research institutes in the UK and overseas. Learn more [link: http://www.shef.ac.uk/materials/prospective_pg/nuclearfirst]

Learn more about the Nuclear FiRST Doctoral Training Centre

Key projects

Professional activities and recognition

Key publications

Research group

Research associates:
Dr Martin Stennett (Ceramic wasteforms)
Dr Paul Bingham (Vitrification of intermediate level wastes)
Dr Claire Utton (Near field interactions of ILW glasses with NRVB backfill)

Visiting research fellow:
Dr Ewan Maddrell (Nexia Solutions Ltd)

Research students:
Adrian Covill (Performance of Geomelt and phosphate wasteforms)
Daniel Reid (Sructure-property relations in zirconolite and pyrochlore
ceramics)
Andrew Giddings (Structure-property relations in ferroelectric perovskites)
Nate Cassingham (Dissolution mechanisms of HLW glass)
Jonathon Squire (Process development for plutonium wasteforms)
Robert Shaw (Dust scrubber chemistry at the Sellafield Waste Vitrification
Plant)
Dan Crean (Remediation of depleted uranium contaminated land from munitions
testing)
Kris James (Reactor concept modelling for civil nuclear marine applications)
Paul Heath (Immobilisation technologies for advanced nuclear fuels)

Project students:
Matt Hand (Next generation materials for thermal barrier coatings)

Research centres

Immobilisation Science Laboratory

Ceramics and Composites Laboratory