Professor Neville Greaves

Distinguished Research Professor
BSc (St Andrews) PhD (Cantab) ScD (Cantab) Dr Hon Causa (Orleans) FGST FInstP Photograph of Professor Neville Greaves.

Contact

Email: gng@aber.ac.uk
Office: 306, Physical Sciences Building, Penglais Campus
Phone: (0)1970 621 907
Fax: (0)1970 622 826

Research

My principal research relates to the physics and chemistry of complex materials – inorganic glasses, glass forming liquids and amorphising solids.  I have also worked on amorphous semiconductors like arsenic and silicon, and on chalcogenide glasses. Often my research has been underpinned by instrument development, such as combining X-ray techniques and also neutron scattering, which are currently being applied to study liquid-liquid transitions in materials at high temperatures and pressures (Nature Materials (2003,2008), Science (2005) and Science (2008)). With 318 papers published, 21 plenary/invited lectures have been presented in the last 3 years.

Biography

Educated at King Edward VII School and a graduate in Natural Philosophy from the University of St Andrews, I worked in industry before obtaining my PhD in Amorphous Semiconductors at the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge.  This included working with the Nobel Laureate Professor Sir Nevill Mott.

I joined the Synchrotron Radiation Source at Daresbury Laboratory in 1978, where I built up X-ray Spectroscopy facilities and established the Materials Science Division. Together we pioneered the development of combined X-ray techniques whereby spectroscopy, diffraction and scattering can all be measured in the same experiment.  In 1990 I received the Science and Technology Award presented by the Guild of Glass Sellers for my work on glass structure.  In 1994 I started the international conference series on Synchrotron Radiation in Materials Science and between1994-96 I was the UK International Advisory Committee Member for the world’s largest synchrotron radiation source, SPring-8 in Japan.

In 1996 I was elected to the Chair of Physics at Aberystwyth and was head of department until 2003.  During that time I was also a member of the Royal Institution Davy Faraday Research Laboratory Committee.  I received a Doctor Honoris Causa at the University of Orleans in 2002 for advancing the understanding of disordered materials using synchrotron radiation. 

In 2003 I was appointed Director of the Institute of Mathematics and Physics at Aberystwyth University, continuing until 2010. Between 2005 and 2009 I served on the Council of the Institute of Physics.  I was awarded a Scientiae Doctor at the University of Cambridge in 2008.  I joined the Science Board of the UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council in 2009. In the same year I was awarded an Honorary Chair in Chemistry at University College London. 

In 2010 I became a Distinguished Research Professor at Aberystwyth University and also a Distinguished Research Fellow at the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy at the University of Cambridge. I received the 2011 George W Morey Award, from the American Ceramic Society, for major contributions to the field of glass science. In 2011, much to my surprise, an international workshop marking my 65th birthday was held at University College London and at the Royal Society.  In 2012 I was awarded a DAAD scholarship for collaborative work on levitation furnaces at German Aerospace.  In the same year I was elected a Foreign Learned Scholar at Shanghai University, and also became a Visiting Research Fellow at Sidney Sussex College Cambridge.

My other interests include poetry and music, and with my wife I have also restored an Elizabethan house.

Staff Publications

      • Greaves GN, Greer AL, Lakes R & Rouxel T, Poisson’s Ratio and Modern Materials, Nature Materials 10 823-837 (2011)
      • Hennet L, Podnyakova I, Bytchkov A, Drewitt J, Kozaily J, Leydier M, Brassamin S, Zanghi D, Fischer HE, Greaves GNG & Price DL.  Application of time resolved x-ray diffraction to study the solidification of glass-forming melts, High Temperature – High Pressure 40, 263-271 (2011)
      • Greaves GN. Polyamorphism and the universal liquid-liquid critical point in the supercooled state, Diamond Light Source Proceedings 1, e121,1-5 (2011)
      • Flikkema E, Zhou Z & Greaves, GN, Using Visualisation Techniques and Molecular Dynamics to Study Atoms Diffusing in Glass, EG 2011 Proceedings ed R. Laramee & I.S. Lim, Eurographics Association (issn 1017-4656) 47-48 (2011)
      • Hennet L, Cristiglio V, Kozaily J, Pozdnyakova I, Fischer HE, Bytchkov A, Drewitt JWE, Leydier M, Thiaudiere D, Gruner S, Brassamin S, Zanghi D, Cuello GJ, Koza M, Magazu S, Greaves GN & Price DL, Aerodynamic levitation and laser heating, Applications at synchrotron and neutron sources, European Physical Journal Special Topics196 151-165 (2011)
      • Greaves GN, Wilding MC, Hennet L, Langstaff D, Kargl F, Benmore CJ & Weber JKR,  Comment on “ The liquid-liquid phase transition in supercooled yttria-alumina”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 119601 (2011)
      • Greaves G N, Wilding M C, Langstaff D, Kargl F, Hennet L, Benmore CJ, Weber JKR & McMillan PF,  Composition and polyamorphism in supercooled yttria-alumina melts, J.Non-Cryst.Solids 357, 435-441 (2011)
      • Greaves G N, Wilding MC, Fearn S, Langstaff D,  Kargl F, Vu Van Q., Hennet L,  Pozdnyakova I & Majérus O, In situ structural studies of alumina during melting and freezing, Advances in Synchrotron Radiation 1, 1-15 (2009)
      • Bras W, Clark SM, Greaves, G.N. Kunz, van Beek W & Radmilovic V,  Nanocrystal Growth in Corderite Glass Ceramics Studied with X-ray Scattering, Crystal Growth & Design 9, 1297-1305 (2009)
      • Wilding MC,  Greaves GN, Vu Van Q, Majérus O & Hennet L, Structure factor changes during the liquid-liquid phase transition in supercooled Y2Al8O16, Synchrotron Radiation in Materials Science: 6th International Conference, ed. R. Magalhaes-Paniago, American Institute of Physics 78-0-7354-0625-4, 98-101 (2009)
      • Greaves GN, Wilding MC, Vu Van Q, Majerus O & Hennet L, Characterising density fluctuations in liquid yttria aluminates with small angle x-ray scattering, Synchrotron Radiation in Materials Science: 6th International Conference, ed. R. Magalhaes-Paniago, American Institute of Physics 78-0-7354-0625-4, 71-74 (2009)
      • Greaves GN, Kargl F, Ward D, HollimanP & Meneau F, Inelastic X-ray Scattering Studies of Zeolite Amorphisation. Synchrotron Radiation in Materials Science: 6th International Conference, ed. R. Magalhaes-Paniago, American Institute of Physics 78-0-7354-0625-4, 51-54 (2009)
      • Greaves GN, Wilding MC, Hennet L, Bras W, Majerus O, Fearn S & Kargl F, Liquid-liquid transitions, crystallisation and long range fluctuations in supercooled yttrium oxide-aluminium oxide. Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 355, 715-721 (2009)
      • Greaves GN, Catlow CRA, Derbyshire GE, McMahon MI, Nelmes RJ & van der Laan G, Two million hours of science, Nature Materials 7, 827-830 (2008)
      • Greaves GN, Wilding MC, Fearn S, Langstaff D, Kargl F, Cox S, Majérus O, Vu Van Q, Benmore CJ, Weber R, Martin CM & Hennet L, Detection of First Order Liquid-Liquid Phase Transitions in Yttrium Oxide – Aluminium Oxide Melts.  Science  322, 566-570 (2008)
      • Greaves G.N., Wilding M.C., Kargl F, Hennet L & Majerus O, Liquids, Glasses, Density Fluctuations and Low Frequency Modes. Advanced Materials Research  39-40, 3-12 (2008)
      • Greaves GN, Melting and Amorphisation. J. Mater. Chem. 18, 166-180 (2008)
      • Cristiglio V, Hennet L, Cuello G J, Pozdnyakova I, Johnson MR, Fischer H E, Zanghi1 D, Vu Van Q, Wilding MC, Greaves GN & Price D L, Structure of molten yttrium aluminates: a neutron diffraction study. J. Phys.: Condens. Matter  19, 415105 (2007)
      • Greaves GN, Meneau F, Kargl F, Ward D, Holliman P & Albergamo F, Zeolite collapse and polyamorphism. J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 19, 415102 (2007) 
      • McMillan PF, Wilson M, Wilding MC, Daisenberger D, Mezouar M & Greaves GN, Polyamorphism and Liquid-Liquid Phase Transitions: Challenges for Experiment and Theory. J. Phys.: Condens. Matter  19, 415101 (2007)
      • Hennet L, Pozdnyakova I, Btichkov A, Price, DL, Greaves GN, Wilding MC, Fearn S, Martin CM, Thiaudière D, Bérar J-F, Boudet N &  Saboungi ML, Development of Structural Ordering during Supercooling of  Fragile oxide Melt. J. Chem. Phys. 126 074906 (2007)
      • Greaves GN & Sen S,  Inorganic Glasses, Glass-Forming Liquids and Amorphising Solids. Advances in Physics, 56, 1-166 (2007)
      • Greaves GN, Weave of Innovation – interdisciplinary research collaboration under way between Bangor and Aberystwyth.  Agenda Winter, (Institute of Welsh Affairs, Cardiff)  49-52 (2006)
      • Jones AR, Winter R, Greaves GN & Smith IH, 23Na, 29Si, 13C MAS NMR investigation of glass-forming reactions between Na2CO3 and SiO2, J. Phys. Chem. B 109, 23154-23161 (2005)
      • Greaves GN, Glass in Class. Physics Education 40, 422-429 (2005)      
      • Meneau  F & Greaves GN,  Identifying low and high density amorphous phases during zeolite amorphisation using small and wide angle x-ray scattering. Nucl. Instrum. Meth. B 238, 70-74  (2005)
      • Bras W, Greaves GN, Oversluizen M, Clark SM & Eeckhaut G, The development of monodispersed alumino-chromate spinel nanoparticles in doped cordierite glass, studied by in situ x-ray small and wide angle scattering, and chromium X-ray spectroscopy. Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids 351, 2178-2193 (2005) 
      • Greaves GN, Meneau F, Majerus O, Jones D & Taylor J , Identifying the vibrations that destabilise crystals and which characterize the glassy state.  Science 308, 1299-1302 (2005) - highlighted in This week in Science 308, 1221 (2005)
      • Gardner C, Greaves GN, Hargrave GK, Jarvis S, Wildman P, Meneau F, Bras W & Thomas G, In situ measurements of soot formation in simple flames using small angle x-ray scattering. Nucl. Instrum. Meth. B 238, 334-339 (2005)
      • Cernik RJ, Barnes P, Bushnell-Wye G, Dent A J, Diakun GP, Flaherty JV, Greaves GN, Heely EL, Helsby W, Jacques SMD, Kay J, Rayment T, Ryan AJ, Tang CC & Terrill NJ, The new materials processing beamline at the SRS Daresbury, MPW6.2. J. Synchrotron. Rad. 11, 163-170 (2004)
      • Greaves GN & Meneau F, Probing the dynamics of instability in zeolitic materials. J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 16, S3459-S3472 (2004)
      • Prabhakaran K, Meneau F, Murashita T, Greaves GN, Sankar G, Homma Y & Ogino T, Reply to Comment On Luminescent Nanoring Structures On Silicon. Advanced Materials 16, 1495-1496 (2004)
      • Prabhakaran K, Meneau F, Sankar G, Sumitomo K, Murashita T, Homma Y, Greaves GN & Ogimo T, Luminescent Nanoring Structures on Silicon. Advanced Materials 15, 1522-1526 (2003)
      • Greaves GN, Meneau F, Sapelkin A, Colyer LM, ap Gwynn I, Wade S. & Sankar G, Rheology of collapsing zeolites amorphised by temperature and pressure. Nature Materials 2, 622-629 (2003) also Nature Materials News and Views 2, 571-572 (2003)
      • Meneau F, Cristol S, Sankar G, Dolbnya IP, Bras W, Catlow CRA, Thomas JM & Greaves GN, In situ Study of the formation of CdS Nanoparticles by Small Angle X-ray Scattering. J Appl. Cryst. 36,718-721 (2003)
      • Bras W, Dolbnya IP, Detollenaere D, van Tol R, Malfois M, Greaves GN, Ryan AJ & Heeley E, Recent Experiments on a SAXS/WAXS Beam Line at the ESRF. J Appl. Cryst. 36,791-794 (2003)
      • Menau F, Sankar G, Morgante N, Cristol S, Catlow CRA, Thomas JM & Greaves GN, Characterisation of Zinc Oxide nanoparticles Encapsulated into Zeolite-Y: An in situ Combined X-ray Diffraction, XAFS and SAXS Study. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 199, 499-503 (2003)
      • Londron G, Hennet L, Thiaudiere D, Price DL & Greaves GN, Structure of liquid oxides at very high temperatures. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 199, 481-488 (2003)
      • Greaves GN, Meneau F & Sankar G, SAXS/WAXS and Zeolite Stability. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 199, 98-105 (2003)
      • Jones AR, Winter R, Greaves GN, Targett-Adams C & Smith IH, 29Si MAS NMR Investigation of Atomic Rearrangements During Batch Melting of Glass. Glass Technology 43C 52-55 (2002)
      • Jones A R, Winter R, Greaves GN & Smith I H, NMR investigation of glass-forming reactions in the binary system Na2O-SiO2. Eur. Soc. Glass Sci. Technol, 43C 52, (2002)
      • Winter R & Greaves GN, Small-Angle Scattering of Disordered Materials. In Structure of Glass Symposium, Harokopio University, Athens, 2002 (Glasnet Publication, Athens), p. 121-134
      • Greaves GN, Brass W, Oversluizen M & Clarke SM, SAXS/WAXS XAFS Study of Crystallisation in Cordierite Glass. Faraday Discussion 122, 299-314 (2002)
      • Meneau F, Morgante N, Sankar G, Winter R, Catlow CRA, Greaves GN & Thomas JM, Following the Formation of Nanometer-sized Clusters by Time-resolved SAXS/WAXS and EXAFS/XRD Techniques.  Faraday Discussion 122, 203-210 (2002)
      • Greaves GN, Compressibility, pressure-induced amorphisation and thermal collapse of zeolites. In "Frontiers of High Pressure Research II: Application of High Pressure to Low Dimensional Novel Electronic Materials". Nato Advanced Research Workshop, Colorado State University, 2001, Ed H.D. Hochheimer (Kluwer Academic Publishers) p. 53-71
      • Meneau F, Greaves GN, Winter R, & Vaills Y, WAXS and NMR Studies of Intermediate and Short Range Order in K2O-SiO2 Glasses. J. Non-Cryst Solids 293-295, 693-699 (2001)
      • Jones AR, Winter R, Greaves GN & Smith IH, MAS NMR Study of Oxide Glasses with Variable Degree of Polymerisation. J. Non-Cryst Solids 293-295, 87-92 (2001)
      • Gou F, Greaves GN, Smith W & Winter R, Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Sodium Borosilicate Glasses. J. Non-Cryst Solids 293-295, 539-546 (2001)
      • Greaves GN, Jenkins TE, Soper AK, Landron C, Hennet L & Coutures J -P, Neutron Scattering Experiments on Solids and Liquids at Elevated Temperatures using An Aerodynamic Laser-Heated Furnace. Proceedings of First International Symposium on Microgravity Research & Applications in Physical Sciences and Biotechnology, ESA Publications: 2001, p. 699-706
      • Greaves GN, Zeolite Instability and Collapse, In: Phase Transitions and Self-Organisation in Electronic and Molecular Networks, Ed. JC Phillips M.F. Thorpe (Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers: 2001) p.225-246
      • Landron C, Hennet L, Jenkins TE, Greaves GN, Coutures JP & Soper A K, Liquid alumina: detailed atomic coordination determined from neutron diffraction data using empirical potential structure refinement. Phys Rev Lett 86, 4839-42 (2001)
      • Landron C, Soper AK, Jenkins TE, Greaves GN, Hennet L & Coutures J-P, Measuring the Neutron Scattering Structure Factor for Liquid Alumina and Analysing the Radial Distribution Function by Empirical Potential Structural Refinement. J. Non-Cryst Solids 293-295, 453-457 (2001)
      • Jones AR, Winter R, Greaves G.N. & Smith IH, MAS NMR study of soda-lime silicate glasses with variable degree of polymerisation. J. Non-Cryst. Solids 293, 87 (2001)