Rob Atkin

Rob Atkin is a Professor in the School of Molecular Sciences at The University of Western Australia (UWA) and a member of the UWA Defence and Security Institute. His research focuses on nano-engineering for sustainable energy solutions, including ionic liquids, electrolytes, smart lubricants, and plastic remediation. He leads a team utilizing advanced facilities like the UWA Centre for Microscopy and external neutron sources (ANSTO, ISIS).

Rob holds a PhD (2003) and has secured over $18M in research funding, including ARC grants and industry partnerships. His expertise spans surface science, tribology, and materials science. Collaborations span international academia and industry. He is open to new collaborations via rob.atkin@uwa.edu.au.

Research Highlights:

• Develops nanostructured liquids for energy storage and low-friction applications.
• Investigates ionic liquid interfaces and their electrochemical behavior.
• Explores novel methods to degrade and recycle plastics.

Key Achievements:

• $10M in ARC grants (10 Discovery Projects, 9 Linkage grants).
• Neutron beam time grants exceeding $3M.
• Over 224 publications and 15,413 citations (h-index 65).