Contact Dr Vijay Kumar Thakur

Areas of expertise

  • Aerospace Structures
  • Armour systems
  • Biomass and Waste
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Composites
  • Defence Sensors
  • Test and Evaluation
  • Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
  • Environmental Impacts
  • Fuels
  • Manufacturing of Functional Materials
  • Aerospace Materials
  • Nanomaterials
  • Nanotechnology
  • Renewable Energy
  • Smart Materials
  • Structures and Materials
  • Surface Engineering
  • Water Science and Engineering

Background

Prior to commencing at Cranfield University, Dr Thakur worked as a Staff Scientist in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Washington State University, USA (2013-2016). He was also a Research Scientist in Temasek Laboratories at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (2009-2012), and a Visiting Research Fellow in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering at Lunghwa University of Science and Technology, Taiwan. 

Dr Thakur did his post-doctoral study in Materials Science & Engineering at Iowa State University and received a PhD in Polymers and Composite Materials (2009).

Dr Thakur has published more than 130 SCI journal research articles in the field of chemical sciences / materials science and holds one United States patent. Eleven of his research papers have been highlighted as Highly Cited Papers in the Web of Science and three papers have been classed as Hot Papers. He has also published 44 books and 35 book chapters on polymer science / materials science / nanotechnology with numerous publishers.

Dr Thakur sits on the editorial board of several SCI journals as Associate Editor/ Editor/ Editorial Advisory Board Member.


Current activities

Current research activities span the disciplines of chemistry, nanotechnology, chemical engineering, manufacturing engineering, materials science and engineering as well as all aspects of polymers and composite materials. Application aspects range across the automotive to aerospace, energy storage, water purification and biomedical fields.

Recent research work includes:

  • Bio-renewable materials: wood / natural cellulose fibres, bio-resins and utilisation of waste biomass for practical uses
  • Additive manufacturing of polymers and composites
  • Multifunctional polymer composites and nanocomposites: self-repairing, structural composites, evaluation of materials using experimental mechanics, rheology, thermal, spectroscopic and microscopic analysis
  • Nanoelectronic materials: novel high dielectric constant and electrochromic materials for energy storage
  • Green synthesis of nanomaterials and surface functionalisation of polymers/nanomaterials
  • Hydrogels: synthesis, characterisation and applications in water purification and biomedical
  • Membranes: sustainable membrane materials for applications in water purification, biomedical and energy storage
  • Nanofiber production and application in biomaterials and smart textiles
  • Composites for extreme environments including high-temperature
  • Aerospace materials and manufacturing technology
Dr Thakur is an editorial board member of several international journals, as well as a member of scientific bodies around the globe. He is the book series editor for Gels Horizon: From Science to Smart Materials (Springer Nature); Materials Horizon: From Nature to Nanomaterials and Polymers and Fibers (Elsevier), and sits on grant review panels for governmental agencies and educational institutions in the UK, US, South Africa, Poland, Chile, Cyprus, Germany, Austria, Singapore, Portugal and India.


Clients

  • Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, UK
  • Airbus UK
  • Alvant Ltd
  • BAE Systems
  • Cambridge Nanosystems
  • Cambond Limited
  • Cametics Limited
  • European Commission
  • Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
  • IMAGE ERDF
  • Munro Technology Limited
  • Medtech Accelerator Limited, UK
  • The British Council 

  • The Royal Academy of Engineering

Publications

Articles In Journals

Conference Papers

Books