Dr. Robert Weatherup

Biography

Robert Weatherup is a professor at the University of Oxford, specializing in Energy Materials. His research focuses on understanding the reactions that occur at the interfaces of functional materials during operation. Critical areas of his work include electrochemical energy storage, heterogeneous catalysis, and materials synthesis. He tackles the challenges of extracting information about interface structure under varying working conditions, particularly due to interference from dense phases and the surrounding reaction environment. To achieve his research goals, Robert employs a suite of interface-sensitive techniques based on electron, X-ray, and neutron probes, combined with specially designed reaction environments. This approach significantly enhances the capabilities of these techniques, enabling measurements in liquid environments under electrochemical bias, high-pressure gas environments, and elevated temperatures. Robert aims to establish clear relationships between interfacial structure and material function across a variety of applications, thereby informing the design of improved materials. He also promotes the widespread adoption of new characterization capabilities using both lab-based instruments and large-scale facilities, fostering close interactions with user facilities based at the nearby Harwell Campus, such as Diamond, ISIS, and HarwellXPS.

Research Interests

Experience