معرفی
Dr. Kenny Jolley is a Senior Lecturer in Materials Modelling within the Department of Chemistry at Loughborough University. With over 15 years of experience in computational chemistry, his expertise spans density functional theory (DFT), molecular dynamics (MD), and multi-scale simulation techniques applied to critical energy materials.
His educational background includes:
- First class Honours MPhys in Physics from the University of Leicester
- PhD in Physics from the University of Leicester (2009), focusing on multi-scale computer simulation methods for nano-engineering applications
Dr. Jolley's research centers on nuclear graphite behavior in reactor environments, investigating how microstructural changes under irradiation affect reactor safety and longevity. His EPSRC-funded work models dimensional changes, creep, and cracking in graphite bricks used in Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors (AGRs). Concurrently, he contributes to the SlowCat project developing platinum nanocluster catalysts on graphene oxide for sustainable biofuel production from waste materials. His interdisciplinary approach bridges physics, chemistry, and materials engineering to address carbon reduction challenges in nuclear energy and biofuel synthesis.
Key industry collaborations include:
- EDF (part-funding his lectureship and regular research discussions)
- Sinosteel (materials science partnership)
- New Investigator Award from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Dr. Jolley leads a dedicated research group studying atomistic defects (e.g., basal dislocations) in graphite, while actively participating in the SlowCat consortium. His nuclear waste glass research demonstrated amorphous structure reconstruction under radiation, explaining radiation resistance mechanisms. Current projects focus on predictive failure modeling for reactor graphite and optimizing single-atom catalysts to reduce platinum usage in biofuel production.
