Professor Richard Palmer is a distinguished academic at Swansea University's Faculty of Science and Engineering, where he serves as Head of the Nanomaterials Lab within the Department of Engineering. He also holds a professorship at Nanjing University's School of Physics in China. With extensive experience in nanoscience research, Professor Palmer has established himself as a leading figure in nanomaterials and nanotechnology. Professor, Department of Engineering, Swansea University (2017-present) Head, Nanomaterials Lab, Swansea University (2017-present) Professor, School of Physics, Nanjing University, China (2015-present) Editor-in-Chief, Advances in Physics: X (2014-present) Professor Palmer earned his PhD in Physics from Cambridge University's Cavendish Laboratory and completed his undergraduate studies with First Class honors in Natural Sciences (Physics and Theoretical Physics) at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. His academic journey includes prestigious fellowships from the Royal Society and the 1851 Royal Commission. Professor Palmer's research focuses on nanoscience and nanotechnology , with particular expertise in nanomaterials, nanoclusters, nanocatalysts, nanosensors, and nanophotonics. His work explores neuromorphic systems for information processing, surface science including atomic manipulation, and innovations in instrumentation. The Nanomaterials Lab investigates nanoclusters (nanoparticles) using aberration-corrected electron microscopy, studying their atomic structure, metastability, and dynamics, with applications spanning catalysis, biomedicine, sensors, photonics, energy generation and storage, environmental applications, and semiconductor materials and devices. His extensive publication record shows consistent research output in nanomaterials characterization and applications, with recent work focusing on structural analysis of nanoclusters, plasmonic metasurfaces, environmental applications of nanomaterials, and neuromorphic computing systems. Professor Palmer's research demonstrates a strong interdisciplinary approach combining physics, materials science, and engineering. IOP Boys Medal dr. h.c. Hasselt University BVC Yarwood Medal EPSRC Fellowship Fellow of the Institute of Physics (IOP) Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales (LSW) Professor Palmer leads the Nanomaterials Lab, which comprises 3 faculty members (including himself), 3 postdocs, 8 graduate students, and 6 honorary staff members. His research has resulted in over 400 publications with more than 13,000 citations and an h-index of 58. He has developed 18 families of patent applications and founded three spin-out companies: Inanovate, Irresistible Materials, and Grove Nanomaterials. His research has been supported by numerous grants, including an EPSRC Fellowship. The Nanomaterials Lab is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including 4 nanoparticle beam sources, STEM, XPS, SEM, AFM, and 4-probe UHV STM. The lab operates across two locations: the Department of Engineering at Swansea University's Bay Campus and the Centre for Nanohealth at Singleton Campus. Professor Palmer's team actively investigates nanocluster formation, stability, and applications, with a strong emphasis on translating fundamental research into practical technologies.
