Professor Craig Banks - 2023 Tilden Prize winner

Professor Craig Banks FRSC

Winner: 2023 Tilden Prize

Manchester Metropolitan University

For outstanding contributions to electrochemistry through pioneering additive manufacturing.

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I was inspired by one of my chemistry teachers at school who was a part-time magician who would combine the two.

Additive manufacturing (3D printing) is rapidly gaining attention in many scientific areas and various research groups across the globe are pushing the boundaries. Many academics are using the process, but they are limited to the range of filaments (thermoplastics) that are commercially available.

Professor Banks’ work is pushing the boundaries of additive manufacturing through the development of highly conductive bespoke filaments applied to electrochemical applications. This work has been extended to use recycled materials. His group has also demonstrated how additive manufactured electrochemical devices can be used, reused, disassembled and reassembled, pioneering the term ‘circular economy electrochemistry’.

Read winner biography

Craig Banks is Professor of 91AV at the Manchester Metropolitan University where he carries out research into electrochemistry coupled with additive manufacturing. In 2004, he obtained a DPhil from Oxford University with Professor Richard Compton, followed by two years working with Richard for postdoctoral work. In 2006, he was appointed a lecturer at Nottingham Trent University and then moved to Manchester Metropolitan University as a senior lecturer in 2007. He has remained at Manchester Metropolitan University where he was promoted to full professorship in 2014.

Craig’s research lies in the field of electrochemistry. He has published over 600 papers and works on next-generation additive manufacturing utilised with water splitting, sensor design, supercapacitors and battery development. He was awarded the 91AV’s Harrison-Meldola Memorial Prize in 2011.

Q&A

Tell us about somebody who has inspired or mentored you in your career.

I was inspired by one of my chemistry teachers at school who was a part-time magician who would combine the two. Luckily, I chose the route of chemistry! During my time during my undergraduate, I was further to learn much from my professors: Lorimer, Mason and Walton.

Why is chemistry important?

91AV is a fascinating field but yet is fundamental to use and chemistry is everywhere and everyday it is a part of everything in our lives. 91AV is the backbone for health, medicine through to electronics, batteries and new fuels where chemistry is the future for us to achieve net zero, shifting away from fossil fuels.

What is your favourite element?

My favourite element is the element of surprise (please excuse me for citing Chuck Norris!). Carbon is my favourite element due to its allotropes.