Professor Benjamin Robinson FHEA
Chair and Director of Materials Science LancasterProfile
I am a Professor of Physics and the Director of the Materials Science Lancaster research centre.
My research group is focused on experimental quantum materials, we are particularly interested in exploiting room temperature quantum effects in single molecules and ultra-thin films comprised of well-ordered organic molecular films, quantum dots and 2D materials. To achieve this, we have a track record in developing and exploiting novel scanning probe methodologies for nanoscale characterisation of electrical, thermal and mechanical properties.
I am PI or Co-I on ~£11M of UKRI grants including the £7.1M EPSRC Programme grant QMol. I have authored or co-authored on more than 50 peer reviewed journal articles and seven international patents, and in 2025 I was part of the team awarded the Times Higher Education Award for Knowledge Exchange/Transfer Initiative of the Year.
From 2017 – 2025 I was scientific materials advisor for Lancaster University spin out company Quantum Base. In April 2025 Quantum Base become the first ever Lancaster University spin out to float on the London Stock Exchange following its successful fundraising and admission to trading.
Full details of my publications can be found on my Google Scholar page.
Research Interests
I have a wonderful research group of enthusiastic post-doctoral researchers and PhD students from a range of scientific backgrounds which is reflected in the highly interdisciplinary nature of our work.
We aim to exploit room temperature quantum transport properties of small organic molecules in massively parallel arrays of molecules formed by techniques such as molecular self-assembly, Langmuir-Blodgett deposition and surface templating. Film structures are characterised by a range of techniques including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Quartz Crystal Microbalance and Atomic Force Microscopy. Electric and thermal properties are studied with nanoscale resolution using our suite of bespoke scanning-probe techniques developed by the group and in close collaborators in Dr Sam Jarvis’ group at Lancaster.
We enjoy fruitful collaborations with colleagues across the UK and the world including: Theory, the groups of Colin Lambert (Lancaster University) and Hatef Sadeghi (University of Warwick, UK); Synthesis, the groups of Martin Bryce (Durham University), Nick Long (Imperial College London), Paul Low (University of Western Australia); Characterisation and Devices, the groups of Chris Ford (University of Cambridge), Lesley Cohen (Imperial College London) and Tim Albrecht (University of Birmingham).
Career Details
Background
2024 – Professor of Physics, Lancaster University
2020 – Senior Lecturer in Physics, Lancaster University
2015 – 50th Anniversary Lecturer in Physics, Lancaster University
Immediately prior to my lectureship, I was a senior research associate in the Physics department at Lancaster University where I was the work-package leader (SThM experiments and measurements) of the major European Commission programme ‘QUANTIHEAT’ (QUANTItative scanning probe microscopy techniques for HEAT transfer management in nanomaterials and nanodevices FP7-NMP-2013-LARGE-7) involving twenty international partners from academia and industry; previously I was the work-package (graphene characterisation and modelling) leader on 'GRENADA' (GRaphenE for NAnoscaleD Applications, FP7/2007-2013). Additionally, I have conducted research at University of Queensland, Daresbury Laboratory and Cranfield University.
I have a PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Wales (Supervisor Prof. Geoff Ashwell) and an MPhys from Sheffield University. I am a past winner of Royal Society of Chemistry, Philip Lynn Adams memorial prize.
PhD Supervision Interests
I have projects available in experimental aspects of molecular electronics, thermal and electrical transport in thin-film materials and their heterostructures, novel growth methods for 3D molecular architectures, and design, fabrication and characterisation of ultra-thin-film thermoelectric materials. Projects are offered on a competitive basis and are subject to availability of funding. Please get in contact for further information or discuss potential projects that are not listed above.
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Memristive Organometallic Devices formed from self-assembled multilayers (MemOD)
01/05/2025 → 29/02/2028
Research
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Memristive Organometallic Devices formed from self-assembled multilayers (MemOD)
01/03/2025 → 28/02/2028
Research
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allic Devices formed from self-assembled multilayers (MemOD)
01/03/2025 → 29/02/2028
Research
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Core Equipment 2024
01/01/2025 → 30/06/2026
Research
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Quantum engineering of energy efficient molecular materials (QMol)
01/11/2023 → 31/10/2028
Research
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Quantum engineering of energy efficient molecular materials (QMol) - Robinson
01/11/2023 → 31/10/2028
Research
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EPSRC CORE Equipment 2022 - Lancaster University
03/01/2023 → 03/07/2024
Research
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CASE: Characterisation of molecular-scale electrocatalytic processes
01/10/2022 → 31/03/2026
Research
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MSI: A novel coating technology based upon polyatomic ions from plasma
01/02/2019 → 30/08/2022
Research
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MSI: Lancaster University ECR Equipment
01/10/2018 → 31/03/2020
Research
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Proximity to Discover: Industry Engagement for Impact
31/03/2018 → 30/11/2019
Research
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Single molecule bond chemical mapping with scanning probe microscopy
01/02/2018 → 30/06/2021
Research
Nanoscale thermoelectric energy generation through the realisation of quantum interference effects in selfassembled molecular-scale junctions
Oral presentation
Deep Representation Learning for Break-Junction Data Analysis
Oral presentation
Development of a Next-Generation STM Break Junction
Oral presentation
Correlative Metrology of Thermoelectric and Electronic Properties in Nanoscale Materials Using Graphene-Coated Probes and Thermal-Electric Force Microscopy
Oral presentation
Variational Autoencoders as Feature Extractors for Break-Junction Data Analysis
Oral presentation
UK Society for Biomaterials Conference 2025
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Variational Autoencoder Representation Learning for Break-Junction Data Analysis
Oral presentation
Quantum interference enhanced transport properties in molecular-scale junctions for thermoelectric applications
Invited talk
Lancaster Chemistry Academia-Industry Symposium
Symposium
Nanomechanical Characterisation Workshop
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Thermoelectrical properties of self-assembled molecular scale junctions
Invited talk
Thermoelectrical properties of self-assembled molecular-scale junctions
Invited talk
MRC Proximity to Discovery Project Evaluation Interviews
Types of Business and Community - Hosting of external, non-academic visitor
Electric and thermoelectric properties of hybrid LB-electrospray films
Invited talk
Step-by-step assembly and characterisation of ultrathin thermoelectric organic films
Invited talk
Research Impact Award
Prize (including medals and awards)
Science and Technology Dean’s Award – Excellence in External Engagement and Impact in Science and Technology
Prize (including medals and awards)
Times Higher Education Awards 2025: Knowledge Exchange/Transfer Initiative of the Year
Prize (including medals and awards)
- Energy Lancaster
- Molecular Scale Electronics
- MSF Supervisors 2019/20
- Quantum Nanotechnology
- Quantum Technology Centre