Professor Craig E Banks

My profile

Biography

Professor / Personal Chair in Chemistry

Research focus on Electrochemistry, both Fundamental and Applied.

Papers > 600; h-index 101; i10-index 522; Citations > 47K

Craig’s expertise lies in electrochemistry both applied and fundamental which includes: supercapacitors, batteries, material science, 2D materials, electrocatalysis, electrosynthesis, electroanalysis, nanotechnology, additive manufacturing, screen-printing, water splitting (electrolysers) towards a Net Zero future and multidisciplinary research with particular emphasis on science underpinning the transition from a linear to a circular economy  (Circular Economy Electrochemistry).

Research supports the following Sustainable Development Goals:

Goal 3: Good health and well-being

Goal 4: Quality education

Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation

Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy

Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth

Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities

Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production

Goal 13: Climate action

Goal 14: Life below water

Goal 15: Life on land

Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions

Goal 17: Partnership for the goals

Prizes and awards

Royal Society of Chemistry Tilden Prize 2023 Winner, awarded for outstanding contributions to electrochemistry through pioneering additive manufacturing. Winners that year: Oxford, Warwick and MMU: Professor Craig Banks - 2023 Tilden Prize winner (rsc.org)

Royal Society of Chemistry  L. S. Theobald Lectureship 2024.  This lectureship is  the “L. S. Theobald” award made in memory of Leslie Stuart Theobald (1898-1979) who was a Lecturer/Reader in Analytical Chemistry at Imperial College from 1925 until his retirement in 1963. The award is made to someone who has demonstrated a significant contribution to the development or application of analytical chemistry.

Royal Society of Chemistry Harrison-Meldola Memorial Prize 2011 Winner, awarded for his contributions to the understanding of carbon materials, in particular graphene and its application as an electrode material. Winners that year: Cambridge, Oxford and MMU.

Royal Society of Chemistry Ronald Belcher Award. Craig’s PHD student, Dale Brownson, was awarded RSC Ronald Belcher Award 2013. Awarded by the RSC in June 2013 for “achievements towards the fundamental understanding of graphene as an electrode material and for contributions to the implications of this knowledge for the evolution of improved electroanalytical sensors.” This led to Dale being awarded a Ramsay Memorial Fellowship (2015-2017) to work further with me.

Books:

1. Understanding Voltammetry, (2007)

2. Understanding Voltammetry, 2nd Edition (2011)

3. Understanding Voltammetry, 3rd Edition (2018)

4. Understanding Voltammetry, 4th Edition (2024)

5. Voltammetric principles (2014)

6. Screen-Printing Electrochemical Architectures (2016)

7. The Handbook of Graphene Electrochemistry (2014)

8. The Handbook of Graphene Electrochemistry, 2nd Edition (2024)

Various projects on:

1. Next generation screen-printed and additive manufactured electrochemical platforms for sensing and key electrochemical reactions;

2. The innovative use of additive manufacturing in next generation batteries (FFF and SLA technology etc) and supercapacitors;

3. New insights into supercapacitors and battery development (e.g. Li/Na/K with Professor Xiaobo Ji, Changsha University, China);

4. Water splitting (hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions)  - a pathway to scalable zero emission hydrogen production with the Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre (Amer Gaffar);

5. Breath sensing (there are over 300 markers in breath that are clinically useful);

6. Electrosynthesis (with Dr Alan Jones, University of Birmingham, UK);

7. Molecular Imprinted Polymers (with Prof Marloes Peeters, University of Manchester, UK);

Craig has established unique areas of electrochemistry, including: Circular Economy Electrochemistry; Forensic Electrochemistry; Regal Electrochemistry; Cosmetic Electrochemistry, Electrochemical Breath Sensing; Rapid Diagnostics Based on Electrochemistry and Electroanalytical Overviews. 

Craig has pushed the boundaries of screen-printing, the first to report novel screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) such as: shallow recessed SPEs, pentagon-shaped recessed SPEs, arrays; CNT SPEs, graphene SPEs, back-to-back SPEs, paper based SPEs and bulk modified SPEs through incorporating electrocatalytic materials into the bulk of the SPEs for important electrochemical reactions used in energy (batteries and supercaps)/water splitting such as the OER, HER, ORR, for pH sensing and also providing benefits in the field of electroanalysis towards a range of target analytes. 

Craig has also pioneered additive manufacturing developing the ability to make his own filaments that are significant electrochemical beneficial over that those which can be bought. Please see Craig’s publications. 

Our latest papers can be found on my profile or:

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=4KtYaCgAAAAJ&hl=en

Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Craig-Banks

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0756-9764

  • Founder and former Academic Lead for PrintCity:

PrintCity was established by Professor Craig Banks in March 2018 supported from the “top down” and guided by the PVC for RKE, Professor Richard Greene. PrintCity grew from an initial academic idea and one funded project to a nationally leading innovative hub of additive and digital manufacturing. Under Craig’s leadership, PrintCity has evolved into an established brand, which is now home to over 20 members of staff, the UK’s first MSc programme (MSc Industrial Digitalisation) and a large quantity of high-value additive manufacturing equipment, and several EU, industry and Research Council funded projects. Note that Prof Carl Diver is now (Nov 21) the operational lead for PrintCity but Craig still provides strategic vision and oversight plus a solid research foundation. 

  • Co-founder and lead of Circular Economy Network (with Professor Paul Hooper)

The Circular Economy Network leads the way in circular economy best practice and innovation across our University, all underpinned by core science in material science. For an overview please see:

Circular Economy Network | Manchester Metropolitan (mmu.ac.uk)

Words of wisdom

“When seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea”                                                   - E. Cantona.

You are only as good as your last paper - Oxon.

Academic and professional qualifications

BSc (H) Chemistry, DPhil (Oxon), PGCHE, FHEA, FRSC

Other academic service (administration and management)

  • Previously Head of Department of Life Sciences (at the time, known as the School of Healthcare; rotational)
  • Previously Faculty Head of Research and Knowledge Exchange (rotational; research culture driven forward, research grants and KE substantially increased exceeding Faculty targets; high calibre research individuals appointed; adviser on research and K strategy and investment)
  • Previously Associate Dean (rotational; the role then transferred to Head of Research and Knowledge Exchange)

Other distinctions

Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC)

Former Associate Editor of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s journal Analytical Methods (maximum 9 years editorship)

Elected as a Highly Cited Researcher by Thomson Reuters; Listed in the World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds 2014 and 2018

As reported by Research.com, I am ranked 753 in the world and 35 in the UK within Materials Science. I have been recognised as a Materials Science Leader Award for 2023.

As reported by Research.com, I am ranked at 50 within Chemistry with the UK. I have been recognised as a Chemistry Leader Award for 2023.

Expert reviewer for external funding bodies

Expert reviewer for various external funding bodies, such as:

European Science Foundation Core Panel Membership (final deciding panel)

EPSRC Peer Reviewer Member and Panel Member

EU Graphene Flagship

Czech Academy of Science 

REF2021 Output Assessor for General Engineering (UoA 12)

National Science Centre, Poland 

National Research Foundation, South Africa

European Research Council 

Visiting and honorary positions

Honorary Professor at:

1) Central South University, Changsha, China;

2) Xiangtan University, Hunan, China;

3) Thapar University, Patiala, India;

4) Henan University of Technology, Henan, China;

5) Xinyang Normal University, Henan, China;

6) Jianghan University, Wuhan, China.

Editorial Board membership

Editorial board member of: 1) Journal of Nanostructure in Chemistry (Springer); 2) Inventions (MDPI - Open Access journal); 3) Applied Chemistry; 4) The Open Electrochemistry Journal; 5) Green Carbon; 6) Engineering Science & Technlogy.

Lead editor of the RSC Specialist Reports in Electrochemistry (July 2014- ).

Editorial Board of ChemElectroChem (Wiley)

Editor in Chief and founding editor: Journal of Carbon Research, (Sept 2014 - ongoing);

Founding Editor Board member of the new Elsevier Journal, Talanta Open. Only UK person.

Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Elsevier Journal, Talanta Open.

Co-Editor-in-Chief of Advanced Materials Science and Technology

Outstanding peer reviewer for Analytical Methods (2021; out of over 51,000 peer reviewers from more than 120 countries, one of only 500 to be recognized).

Outstanding peer reviewer for Analytical Methods 2022 and 2023.

Placed #49,634 in the publishing world by Mendelay report which ranks the first 500,000 of the world’s 8 million scientists.

Projects

Recently Funded Projects

TRANSFORM-CE: Disrupting linear recycling

Single use plastics cause enormous pollution in our environment. They leak into our oceans ending up as micro plastics affecting our ecosystems. Single use plastics are created from virgin plastic feedstock, used once and then sent to landfill. The circular economy wants plastics to be returned into products, thereby avoiding plastics waste. This pioneering project will turn plastic waste into more valuable 3D printing feedstock.

PrintCity Network

Helping SMEs in Greater Manchester explore and uptake additive manufacturing to boost business’s productivity and growth

https://www.mmu.ac.uk/business-school/business/sme-support/printcity-ne…

ECO-I North West

Helping SMEs in the North West to creating new, low-carbon products, processes and services to reduce costs, improve performance and establish your position in low carbon future.

https://www.mmu.ac.uk/business-school/business/sme-support/eco-i-north-west/

TRANSFORM-CE: Disrupting linear recycling

Single use plastics cause enormous pollution in our environment. They leak into our oceans ending up as micro plastics affecting our ecosystems. Single use plastics are created from virgin plastic feedstock, used once and then sent to landfill. The circular economy wants plastics to be returned into products, thereby avoiding plastics waste. This pioneering project will turn plastic waste into more valuable 3D printing feedstock.

https://www.mmu.ac.uk/environmental-science-research/waste-to-resource-innovation-network/activity/transform-ce/

ShaREPAIR

The aim of this project is to reduce the amount of waste from electrical and electronic goods. Waste from electrical and electronic goods is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the European Union, growing at 3-5% a year. Consumption of electrical and electronic equipment, and therefore the production of waste from electrical and electronic goods, is very high throughout North-West Europe (source: Eurostat 2016, EEE products put on the market).

The novel way to tackle waste from electrical and electronic goods is to encourage the public to make use of local repair cafes and workshops which are increasingly popular on the continent. Here, individuals can access 3D printers and specifications for parts to repair their machines and devices thus taking away the need to replace with a new product and so empowering individuals to ‘citizen repair’.

https://www.mmu.ac.uk/environmental-science-research/waste-to-resource-innovation-network/activity/sharepair/

Bio-based plastics

We are part of an €8.4m HORIZON2020 bio-based plastic project to tackle plastics in seas. A total of 22 international partners in science, industry and associations are part of the four-year research project. Nearly 70% of the approximately 10 million tons of waste that are washed into the oceans every year are made of plastic, studies show. The consortium will investigate problems associated with the treatment and disposal of plastic water bottles to encourage innovations in the production of bio-based plastics. Bio-based plastics are produced from renewable raw materials and they are biodegradable and therefore less dangerous for fauna, flora and human health.

https://www.bioplasticseurope.eu/

CIRMAP: Circular economy via customisable furniture with recycled materials for public places.

In North West Europe, 65 Mt of Recycled Fine Aggregates (RFA) are generated each year from the crushing of concrete construction and demolition wastes and are disposed in landfills or in banks. In the meantime, 54 Mt of marine sands are extracted, threatening fragile marine spaces. Reusing RFA in concrete would save natural resources. However, no market exists for RFA owing to rigorous construction standards.

RFA is a local resource, with large variability, which is not suited to mass production needing regular materials. But it could be used at a smaller scale, for the manufacture of products needing neither to comply with construction standards nor to possess high performances.

5 Mt of RFA could be recycled into concrete for the manufacture of urban, memorial or garden furniture, and become the starting point of a circular economy loop. Traditional precast concrete cannot be used for small-scale production because of the high share of moulds in the global cost (50 to 80%).

However, concrete 3D printing allows manufacturing customised pieces that could be shown by customers as a banner of their identity. Urban, memorial or garden furniture is always located in difficult to access zones. Reducing its weight by shape optimisation and onsite printing would be easier.

Cirmap provides both a new mixture proportioning method for the design of 3D-printed mortars with RFA and a new design methodology for customized shapes which will be transferred to manufacturers. The project will help recycle 25t of RFA. In the long term, up to 25Mt of RFA could be reused in 3D-printed products.

https://www.mmu.ac.uk/environmental-science-research/waste-to-resource-innovation-network/activity/cirmap/

Research outputs

Craig’s expertise lies in electrochemistry both applied and fundamental, supercapacitors, batteries, material science, electrosynthesis, electroanalysis, nanotechnology, additive manufacturing, screen-printing, water splitting (electrolysers) and multidisciplinary research with particular emphasis on science underpinning the transition from a linear to a circular economy  (Circular Economy Electrochemistry).

Recently funded projects:

TRANSFORM-CE:  https://www.mmu.ac.uk/environmental-science-research/waste-to-resource-innovation-network/activity/transform-ce/

CIRMAP: https://www.mmu.ac.uk/environmental-science-research/waste-to-resource-innovation-network/activity/cirmap/

Bioplastic Europe: https://www.mmu.ac.uk/environmental-science-research/waste-to-resource-innovation-network/activity/bioplastics/

SHAREPAIR : https://www.mmu.ac.uk/environmental-science-research/waste-to-resource-innovation-network/activity/sharepair/

Anyone interested in applying for Fellowship Schemes and self funded PHD students should contact me directly.