Dr Nik Reeves-McLaren

BSc (Hons) PhD

School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering

Senior Lecturer in Energy Materials

Faculty of Engineering PGR Lead

Laser Safety Officer

Raman Small Research Facility Lead

n.reeves@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 6013

Sir Robert Hadfield Building

Full contact details

Dr Nik Reeves-McLaren
School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering
Sir Robert Hadfield Building
Mappin Street
Sheffield
S1 3JD

Profile: I obtained my BSc (Hons) in Chemistry with New Materials Technology from The University of Aberdeen in 1999, before moving to The University of Sheffield where I undertook a PhD on "Novel Cathode and Anode Materials for Rechargeable Lithium-ion Batteries".

I was appointed as XRD Research Facility Manager in November 2003, promoted to Research and Teaching Fellow in 2014, and then to Senior Lecturer in 2019. I have worked as Head of the Engineering Doctoral School since September 2024.

I am Principal Investigator of the Advanced Characterisation of Energy Materials (AChem) research group in the department, as well as part of the broader Functional Materials & Devices research cluster. My monograph 'Inside Energy Storage Materials' was published by AIP Publishing in 2022. Recent work on data integrity in AI-accelerated materials discovery was published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A (2025) and formed the basis of a keynote address at the Winter Crystallography Meeting (2025).

Research interests: My research programme addresses critical challenges at the intersection of battery materials science, crystallography, and research integrity in the AI era.

My battery materials research centres on (i) layered transition metal oxides for sodium-ion batteries and (ii) high-voltage spinel systems, with particular expertise in understanding structural transformations, oxygen non-stoichiometry, and ion conduction pathways. This work encompasses fundamental materials chemistry – including phase diagram determination and operando characterisation – and synthesis optimisation through approaches through wet chemical routes. As a crystallographer, I employ advanced diffraction and spectroscopic methods including synchrotron X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction, XAS, and operando electrochemical characterisation to study structure-property relationships.

Recently, my work has increasingly addressed data integrity in science and AI-accelerated materials discovery. Published research demonstrates that domain experts cannot reliably distinguish AI-generated characterisation data from authentic experimental results, highlighting profound risks as AI tools become ubiquitous in research. I advocate for developing frameworks and practical validation protocols that balance the promise of AI-driven discovery with scientific rigour, recognising that democratised AI coding tools offer tremendous opportunities whilst demanding new quality assurance approaches to safeguard the scientific record.

Key research interests:

• Sodium-ion battery cathode materials (layered oxides, structure-property relationships)
• Advanced characterisation (synchrotron XRD, neutron diffraction, operando methods)
• Data integrity frameworks for AI/ML in materials science
• Multi-technique validation and rigorous experimental methodology
• Operando and in situ electrochemical characterisation
• Raman spectroscopy for battery electrode quality control

Publications

Books

Reeves-McLaren N () Inside Energy Storage Materials. AIP Publishing LLCMelville, New York.

Journal articles

Martin DZC, Boston R, Adedayo BA, Smith R, Baker PJ, Diaz-Lopez M, Celorrio V & Reeves-McLaren N (2025) Crystal structure and lithium-ion diffusion mechanism in the inverse spinel solid solution series, Li2+xNi2-2xCrxV2O8 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1). Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. View this article in WRRO
Nohl JF, Farr NTH, Acocella MR, Knight AJ, Hughes GM, Zhang J, Robertson S, Micklethwaite S, Murphy S, Motlová T , Walker C et al (2025) Secondary electron hyperspectral imaging of carbons: new insights and good practice guide. Advanced Science. View this article in WRRO
Wilson G, Reeves-McLaren N & Boston R (2023) A comparative study of the effect of synthesis method on the formation of P2- and P3-Na0.67Mn0.9Mg0.1O2 cathodes. Materials Research Express, 10(7). View this article in WRRO
Venegas CJ, Gutierrez FA, Reeves-McLaren N, Rivas GA, Ruiz-León D & Bollo S (2023) In situ or ex situ synthesis for electrochemical detection of hydrogen peroxide—an evaluation of Co2SnO4/RGO nanohybrids. Micromachines, 14(5). View this article in WRRO
Zilinskaite S, Reeves-McLaren N & Boston R (2022) Xanthan gum as a water-based binder for P3-Na2/3Ni1/3Mn2/3O2. Frontiers in Energy Research, 10. View this article in WRRO
Fish KE, Reeves-McLaren N, Husband S & Boxall J (2020) Uncharted waters: the unintended impacts of residual chlorine on water quality and biofilms. npj Biofilms and Microbiomes, 6. View this article in WRRO
Moran RF, Fernandes A, Dawson DM, Sneddon S, Gandy AS, Reeves-McLaren N, Whittle KR & Ashbrook SE (2020) Phase distribution, composition, and disorder in Y2(Hf,Sn)2O7 ceramics: insights from solid-state NMR spectroscopy and first-principles calculations. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 124(31), 17073-17084.
Zheng P, Su J, Wang Y, Zhou W, Song J, Su Q, Reeves‐McLaren N & Guo S (2020) A high‐performance primary nanosheet heterojunction cathode composed of Na0.44MnO2 tunnels and layered Na2Mn3O7 for Na‐ion batteries. ChemSusChem, 13(7), 1793-1799.
Venegas CJ, Gutierrez FA, Eguílaz M, Marco JF, Reeves-McLaren N, Rivas GA, Ruiz-León D & Bollo S (2019) Co2TiO4/reduced graphene oxide nanohybrids for electrochemical sensing applications. Nanomaterials, 9(11).
Martin DZC, Haworth AR, Schmidt WL, Baker PJ, Boston R, Johnston KE & Reeves-McLaren N (2019) Evaluating lithium diffusion mechanisms in the complex spinel Li2NiGe3O8. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 21(41), 23111-23118.
Ros FC, Reeves-McLaren N, Masó N & West AR (2019) Synthesis, structure and dielectric properties of a new family of phases, ABC3O11 : A = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd; B = Zr, Hf; C = Ta, Nb. Journal of the Australian Ceramic Society, 55(2), 305-314.
Mottram L, Martin D, Reeves-McLaren N & Boston RH (2018) Low‐temperature crystallization of La0.15Sr0.775TiO3 using ionic liquids. Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 101(10), 4468-4471. View this article in WRRO
Zilinskaite S, Rennie A, Boston R & Reeves-McLaren N (2018) Biotemplating: A Sustainable Synthetic Methodology for Na-ion Battery Materials. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 6(13), 5346-5355. View this article in WRRO
Ryabenkova Y, Jadav N, Conte M, Hippler MFA, Reeves-McLaren N, Coates PD, Twigg P & Paradkar A (2017) Mechanism of Hydrogen-Bonded Complex Formation between Ibuprofen and Nanocrystalline Hydroxyapatite.. Langmuir, 33(12), 2965-2976. View this article in WRRO
Reeves N, Sharp J, Beltran Mir H, Rainforth WM & West AR (2016) Spinel–rock salt transformation in LiCoMnO4−δ. Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 472(2185). View this article in WRRO
Chen Y-C, Reeves-McLaren N, Tan CC, Bingham PA, Forder SD & West AR (2016) Synthesis and characterisation of Li11RE18M4O39-delta: RE = Nd or Sm; M = Al, Co or Fe. Dalton Transactions, 45(1), 315-323. View this article in WRRO
West AR, Jarkaneh R, Dong B, Hull S, Reeves-McLaren N & Biendicho J (2016) Synthesis, structure and electrical properties of N-doped Li3VO4. Journal of Materials Chemistry A(4), 1408-1413. View this article in WRRO
Szumiata T, Gzik-Szumiata M, Brzózka K, Górka B, Gawroński M, Caruana Finkel A, Reeves-Mclaren N & Morley NA (2015) Interface influence on the properties of Co90Fe10 films on soft magnetic underlayers - Magnetostrictive and Mössbauer spectrometry studies. Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, 401, 943-948. View this article in WRRO
Morley NA, Finkel AC, Yang W & Reeves-Mclaren N (2014) Magnetic and structural characterization of NiFe/Fe30Co70 Bilayers. IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, 50(11). View this article in WRRO
Caruana Finkel A, Reeves-Mclaren N & Morley NA (2014) Influence of soft magnetic underlayers on the magnetic properties of Co90Fe10 films. Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, 357, 87-92.
Bingham PA, Hannant OM, Reeves-Mclaren N, Stennett MC & Hand RJ (2014) Selective behaviour of dilute Fe3 + ions in silicate glasses: An Fe K-edge EXAFS and XANES study. Journal of Non Crystalline Solids, 387, 47-56.
Kotapati S, Javed A, Reeves-Mclaren N, Gibbs MRJ & Morley NA (2013) Effect of the Ni81Fe19 thickness on the magnetic properties of Ni81Fe19/Fe50Co50 bilayers. Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, 331, 67-71.
Wu H, Habgood M, Parker JE, Reeves-Mclaren N, Cockcroft JK, Vickers M, West AR & Jones AG (2013) Crystal structure determination by combined synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction and crystal structure prediction: 1:1 l-ephedrine d-tartrate. Crystengcomm, 15(10), 1853-1859.
Chen Y-C, Reeves-McLaren N, Bingham PA, Forder SD & West AR (2012) Synthesis and characterization of Li11Nd18Fe4O(39-δ).. Inorg Chem, 51(15), 8073-8082.
Reeves-McLaren N, Smith RI & West AR (2011) Lithium-Ion Conduction Pathways in Complex Lithium Spine Is Li2MGe3O8 (M = Ni or Zn). CHEM MATER, 23(15), 3556-3563.
Gillie LJ, de Souza SA, Sheptyakov D, Reeves‐McLaren N, Pasero D & West AR (2011) ChemInform Abstract: Synthesis, Structural Characterization and Li⁺ Ion Conductivity of a New Vanado‐Molybdate Phase, LiMg₃VMo₂O₁₂.. ChemInform, 42(7).
Reeves-McLaren N, Ferrarelli MC, Tung Y-W, Sinclair DC & West AR (2011) Synthesis, structure and electrical properties of Cu3.21Ti1.16Nb2.63O12 and the CuO x -TiO2-Nb2O5 pseudoternary phase diagram. Journal of Solid State Chemistry.
Gillie LJ, de Souza SA, Sheptyakov D, Reeves-McLaren N, Pasero D & West AR (2010) Synthesis, structural characterization and Li+ ion conductivity of a new vanado-molybdate phase, LiMg3VMo2O12. Journal of Solid State Chemistry.
Varghese J, Joseph T, Sebastian MT, Reeves-McLaren N & Feteira A (2010) Crystal Structure and Microwave Dielectric Properties of LaLuO3 Ceramics. J AM CERAM SOC, 93(10), 2960-2963.
Wu H, Reeves-McLaren N, Pokorny J, Yarwood J & West AR (2010) Polymorphism, Phase Transitions, and Thermal Stability of L-Pyroglutamic Acid. CRYST GROWTH DES, 10(7), 3141-3148.
Wu H, Reeves-McLaren N, Jones S, Ristic RI, Fairclough JPA & West AR (2010) Phase Transformations of Glutamic Acid and Its Decomposition Products. CRYST GROWTH DES, 10(2), 988-994.
Pasero D, Reeves N, Pralong V & West AR (2008) Oxygen nonstoichiometry and phase transitions in LiMn1.5Ni0.5O4-delta. J ELECTROCHEM SOC, 155(4), A282-A291.
Pasero D, Reeves N, Gillie LJ & West AR (2007) Variable oxygen stoichiometry in layered rock salt cathodes, Li-x(Mn,Ni)O-2, depending on synthesis conditions. JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES, 174(2), 1078-1081.
Pasero D, Reeves N, Gillie L, Pralong V & West AR (2007) Oxygen stoichiometry-structure-property correlations in Li-2/3[Mn2/3Ni1/3]O2-delta with O-3 structure. J ELECTROCHEM SOC, 154(8), A760-A769.
Reeves N, Pasero D & West AR (2007) Order-disorder transition in the complex lithium spinel Li2CoTi3O8. J SOLID STATE CHEM, 180(6), 1894-1901.
Pasero D, de Souza S, Reeves N & West AR (2005) Oxygen content and electrochemical activity of LiCoMnO4-delta. J MATER CHEM, 15(41), 4435-4440.
Pasero D, Reeves N & West AR (2005) Co-doped Mn3O4: a possible anode material for lithium batteries. J POWER SOURCES, 141(1), 156-158.
Chia F, Zheng Y, Liu J, Reeves N, Ungar G & Wright PV (2003) Thick lamellar textures and high ambient conductivity in de-blended mixtures of low-dimensional systems of two polymers and Li salts. ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA, 48(14-16), 1939-1951.
Reeves N, Kirk CA & West AR (2001) Reversible spinel to rock salt transition in LiCoMnO delta by oxygen (de) intercalation. J MATER CHEM, 11(2), 249-250.
Reeves-McLaren N & Moth-Lund Christensen S () Data integrity in materials science in the era of AI: balancing accelerated discovery with responsible science and innovation. Journal of Materials Chemistry A.
Gandy AS, Jim B, Coe G, Patel D, Hardwick L, Akhmadaliev S, Reeves-McLaren N & Goodall R () High temperature and ion implantation-induced phase transformations in novel reduced activation Si-Fe-V-Cr (-Mo) high entropy alloys. Frontiers in Materials, 6. View this article in WRRO
Toolan D, Isakova A, Hodgkinson R, Reeves-McLaren N, Hammond OS, Edler KJ, Briscoe WH, Arnold T, Gough T, Topham PD & Howse JR () Insights into the Influence of Solvent Polarity on the Crystallization of Poly(ethylene oxide) Spin-Coated Thin Films via in Situ Grazing Incidence Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering. Macromolecules, 49(12), 4579-4586. View this article in WRRO

Book chapters

Reeves-McLaren N (2022) X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy, Inside Energy Storage Materials AIP Publishing LLCMelville, New York
Reeves-McLaren N (2022) Non-Ambient Experiments for Energy Storage Materials, Inside Energy Storage Materials AIP Publishing LLCMelville, New York
Reeves-McLaren N (2022) Introduction to the Materials Science of Rechargeable Batteries, Inside Energy Storage Materials AIP Publishing LLCMelville, New York
Reeves-McLaren N (2022) Instrument Design, Inside Energy Storage Materials AIP Publishing LLCMelville, New York
Reeves-McLaren N (2022) Emergent Techniques and Future Directions, Inside Energy Storage Materials AIP Publishing LLCMelville, New York
Reeves-McLaren N (2022) Electrochemistry in the Wild, Inside Energy Storage Materials AIP Publishing LLCMelville, New York
Reeves-McLaren N (2022) Diffraction Basics, Inside Energy Storage Materials AIP Publishing LLCMelville, New York
Reeves-McLaren N (2022) Operando and In Situ Electrochemical Cell Designs, Inside Energy Storage Materials AIP Publishing LLCMelville, New York

Conference proceedings

Wilson G, Zilinskaite S, Unka S, Boston R & Reeves-McLaren N (2020) Establishing operando diffraction capability through the study of Li-ion (de) intercalation in LiFePO4. Energy Reports, Vol. 6(Supplement 5) (pp 174-179). Southampton, UK, 9 July 2019 - 10 July 2019.
Reeves-McLaren N, Hong M, Alqurashi H, Xue L, Sharp J, Rennie AJ & Boston R (2018) The Spinel LiCoMnO4: 5V cathode and conversion anode. Energy Procedia, Vol. 151 (pp 158-162). Sheffield, UK, 11 September 2018 - 11 September 2018. View this article in WRRO
Reeves-McLaren N (2016) Application of virtual learning environments to support research and teaching in the 21st century university. 6th International Symposium on Engineering Education (pp 101-108). Manchester, 14 July 2016 - 15 July 2016.
Kinoshita H, Brewer M, Talbot-Eeckelaers CE, Reeves N, Copping R, Sharrad CA & May I (2008) High temperature behaviour of polyoxometalates containing lanthanides. SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR NUCLEAR WASTE MANAGEMENT XXXI, Vol. 1107 (pp 347-353)

Reports

Wu H, Habgood M, Parker JE, Reeves-McLaren N, Cockcroft JK, Vickers M, West AR & Jones AG (2013) Crystal structure determination of a complex pharmaceutical compound using synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction

Teaching activities

MAT6665 - Materials Processing and Characterisation
MAT61021 - Energy Generation and Storage
MAT3210 - Electroceramics
MAT655 - Transferable Skills for Engineers and Scientists

Professional activities and memberships

Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry
Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Authority