Prof. Elias Siores, Provost and Director of Research and Innovation

Smart Materials in Energy Conversion for Technical Textile Systems and Devices

Abstract:

Smart materials are capable of sensing the environment within which they are functioning and responding to a stimulus from that environment. Numerous applications have started to emerge and are increasingly finding their way from the laboratory to the commercial world. The research and development work undertaken in the area of smart materials for applications in technical textile systems and devices, especially wearables, are explained and discussed. Systems and devices based on energy conversion such as piezoelectric, photovoltaic and electrorheological as well as passive microwaves are explored for potential industry applications ranging from renewable energy (micropower) by scavenging energy from human motion and the elements (wind, rain, waves and tides), to vehicle and personal protection, healthcare (controlled drug release and and biomedical (tremor suppression, early diagnosis of breast cancer and carotid evaluation). The incorporation of such smart materials into flexible fibre structures and systems integration on wearables is also outlined along with the potential to apply the emerging technologies in other areas.

Bio:

Professor Elias Siores is the Provost and Director of Research and Innovation at The University of Bolton. Educated in the UK (BSc, MSC, MBA, PhD) and pursued his academic career in Australia (Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne) and Asia (Hong Kong, Dong Guan) before returning to Europe (Germany and UK) as a Marie Curie Fellow. His R&D work concentrated on advancing the science and technology in the field of automated Non-Destructive Testing and Evaluation including Ultrasound, Acoustic Emission, and Microwave Thermography. His recent R&D work focuses on Smart / Functional Materials and Systems development. In this area, he has developed Electromagnetic, Electrorheological, Photovoltaic and Piezoelectric Smart Materials for applications in Micro-Power Re-generators (Energy Conversion Systems) and Medical, Health Care and Wearable Devices, both sensing and actuation. He has published over 300 publications including, presented 15 Keynote Addresses, co-invented 8 International Patents and won more than 15 International Awards and Prizes. He has been a member of editorial boards of international journals, is a Fellow of IOM3, TWI, and IEAust and has served on the Board of Directors of a number of research centres worldwide including UK, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong.