Andrew Pratt
Reader

Profile

Biography

My research focusses on understanding the electronic, magnetic, and chemical properties at the surface of advanced nanomaterials in order to engineer them for a variety of applications. At the nanoscale, surfaces and interfaces play a critical role in how a device or sensor operates and a material’s surface properties often differ drastically to the bulk. Using a range of experimental techniques, my group aims to obtain a detailed fundamental understanding of nanoscale surface phenomena including molecular adsorption, surface reconstruction and relaxation, oxidation and surface magnetism. In addition to standard surface analysis tools such as photoelectron spectroscopy, low energy electron diffraction and scanning tunnelling microscopy, I have developed a unique instrument for performing spin-polarised metastable helium spectroscopy. Materials systems of particular interest include those relevant to spintronics and organic spintronics, and my group also investigates the surface properties of native and core-shell metal and metal oxide nanoparticles for biomedical and environmental applications.

Career

• Reader (2022 to present)
• Lecturer (York, 2014)
• ICYS Fellow (NIMS, Japan, 2013-2014),
• University Research Fellow (York, 2009-2013);
• JSPS Research Fellow (National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Tsukuba, Japan, 2009-2010);
• Postdoc (York, 2005-2009);
• PhD Physics (York, 2005);
• MPhys (Sheffield, 2001);

Summary of expertise

• Surface Physics
• Surface Properties of Nanomaterials
• Surface Magnetism
• Organic Spintronics
• Spin-Polarised Metastable De-excitation Spectroscopy

Roles in the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology

• Deputy Chair of the Board of Studies
• Academic Technical Liaison

Teaching

Undergraduate

• Atomic Physics (Quantum Physics II)
• Lasers (Electromagnetism and Optics)
• 3rd Year Advanced Teaching Laboratory

Postgraduate

• IOP Magnetism Winter School: Lectures of Surface Magnetism