Dr Liuquan Yang

Profile

Dr Liuquan Yang obtained his first degree in Chemical Engineering and Technology (Electrochemistry) from Tianjin University. He then went to Cranfield University to read for MSc in Process and Systems Engineering funded by Honda Research Institute Europe. Subsequently he was awarded a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Leeds sponsored by Afton Chemical Limited. He was the recipient of Student Travel Award from UK Surface Analysis Forum in 2013 and he was the co-organiser of the 10th TriboUK student conference in 2013. Dr Yang started his career by receiving a Marie Curie fellowship working in Oerlikon Balzers France. His main research focus was R&D in Formula One and motorsport coatings. He became permanent at Wallwork Cambridge (TECVAC) where he managed projects funded by EU and Innovate UK in areas such as aerospace, additive manufacturing and biomedical sectors. His work has directly led to the automation of an Airbus coating production line, a prototype machine for surface treatment of additive manufactured components, and a first UK clinical trial of antimicrobial coatings in the knee revision surgery. Dr Yang joined Leeds to manage the operation of the EPSRC strategic equipment at the school and eventually became a lecturer in surface engineering in the same department.

Dr Yang’s research interests at Leeds have centred around the material and interface design in various applications for a more sustainable living. Coatings and surface treatment are primiarily concerned.

Dr Yang is currently managing the industrial PVD/PECVD deposition facility at the school and he welcomes academic collaborations and industrial access through the Royce Institute at Leeds (https://www.royce.ac.uk/equipment-and-facilities/pvd-pecvd-coating-system/)

Responsibilities

• Module Leader - Tribology and Surface Engineering
• Facility manager - Industrial PVD/PECVD deposition system
• Member, Tribology Group, Institution of Mechanical Engineers

Research interests

My current research interests are green and sustainable coating manufacturing, high temperature coatings for electric vehicle and aerospace, high corrosion reistance and dielectric materials, biomedical coatings, material and interface design for battery and fuel cells.

Qualifications

• BEng (Tianjin)
• MSc (Cranfield)
• PhD (Leeds)

Professional memberships

• Chartered Engineer, Institution of Mechanical Engineers (CEng MIMechE)

Student education

Module Leader – Tribology and Surface Engineering

Module contribution at SWJTU-Leeds Joint School – English for Engineering; Vehicle Design and Analysis

Undergraduate and Postgraduate professional projects supervision

Research degress (MRes, PhD) supervision

Research groups and institutes

• Institute of Functional Surfaces

Current postgraduate researchers

• Rob Brittain
• Emily McNulty
• Mobeen Haneef