Dr Ignacio Martin-Fabiani

BSc, MSc, PhD, MRSC

  • UKRI Future Leaders Fellow and Senior Lecturer in Materials Science
Nacho Marton-Fabiani-Carrato

Background:

Dr Nacho Martin-Fabiani leads an experimental and modelling research group working in the fields of colloid, interface, soft matter science and engineering. The main strength of his group resides on the use of advanced spectroscopy, microscopy, and scattering techniques to progress the understanding of liquid formulations which film-form. This is relevant to a wide range of sectors such as paints, coatings, inks, adhesives, and cosmetics. In recent times, his group has expanded to incorporate new research lines. The first one is the study of sustainable formulations, including lifecycle analysis of biobased coatings to compare with current industrial products. The second one is the use of artificial intelligence for formulation optimisation, implementing evidence- and science- based approaches. Last but not least, the group has been involved in significant activity developing methods for microplastics detection and characterisation.  

Qualifications:

  • 2022: Medici Enterprise Training Programme, University of Birmingham
  • 2013: PhD, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and Complutense University of Madrid
  • 2010: MSc in Plastics and Rubber, Menéndez Pelayo International University
  • 2008: BSc in Materials Physics, Complutense University of Madrid

Awards:

  • 2024: Science Award at the Coatings Science International Conference
  • 2020: UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship
  • 2019: Polymer Lecture Exchange Award by the Institute of Physics and the American Physical Society
  • 2016: Vice-Chancellor’s Research Fellowship at 亚洲情色
  • 2016: Santander Mobility Award
  • 2015: Award to the best PhD Thesis using synchrotron light in the year 2013/14 by the Spanish Synchrotron User Association (AUSE)

Professional affiliations:

  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
  • Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry
  • Member of the International Polymer Colloids Group

Outline of main research interests:

  • Fundamental soft matter and colloidal science
  • Functional coatings, e.g., antibacterial, abrasion resistant, photocatalytic.
  • Data-driven liquid formulation optimisation
  • Microplastics detection and characterisation
  • Sustainability assessments

Grants and contracts:

Selected Grants

  • Harnessing colloidal engineering for new opacifiers, EPSRC-NSF (£660k), 2025-2028.
  • Next-generation coatings: formulation and functionality, UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship Renewal (£567k), 2025-2028.
  • SSbD4CheM - Safe and Sustainable by Design framework for the next generation of Chemicals and Materials, Horizon Europe (7.5 million €), 2024-2027
  • A bioinspired platform technology for next-generation functional paints and coatings, UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship (£1.1 million), 2020-2025
  • Integrated AFM-CFLIM with fibre-coupled infrared detector for materials research, EPSRC Strategic Equipment Grant (£817k), 2019-2023.

Current teaching responsibilities:

I am currently acting as Deputy Research Director for the Department of Materials, and as lecturer in the following modules:

  • CPG010 Colloid Science and Engineering
  • CGB024 Desing and Make 2

I also supervise final year and Masters projects across the various programs that we deliver in the Department.

Sofroniou, C, Scacchi, A, Le, H, Rodriguez, EE, D’Agosto, F, Lansalot, M, Dunlop, PSM, Ternan, NG, Martin-Fabiani-Carrato, N (2024) , ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 6(17), pp.10298-10310, ISSN: 2637-6105. DOI: .

Murdoch, T, Quienne, B, Pinaud, J, Caillol, S, Martin-Fabiani-Carrato, N (2024) , Nanoscale, 16(26), pp.12660-12669, ISSN: 2040-3364. DOI: .

Murdoch, T, Quienne, B, Argaiz, M, Tomovska, R, Espinosa, E, D’Agosto, F, Lansalot, M, Pinaud, J, Caillol, S, Martin-Fabiani-Carrato, N (2023) , ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 5(8), pp.6672-6684, ISSN: 2637-6105. DOI: .

Woods, S, Tinkler, JD, Bensabeh, N, Palà, M, Martin, S, Martin-Fabiani-Carrato, N, Lligadas, G, Hatton, F (2023) , ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 11(27), pp.9979-9988, ISSN: 2168-0485. DOI: .

Tinkler, J, Scacchi, A, Argaiz, M, Tomovska, R, Archer, A, Willcock, H, Martin-Fabiani-Carrato, N (2022) , Langmuir, 38(18), pp.5361-5371, ISSN: 0743-7463. DOI: .

Srimalanon, P, Martin-Fabiani-Carrato, N, Prapagdee, B, Markpin, T, Wimolmala, E, Sombatsompop, N (2021) , Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, 23(5), pp.1893-1904, ISSN: 1438-4957. DOI: .

Drakopoulos, S, Manika, GC, Nogales, A, Kim, T, Robbins, AB, Claudio, G, Minnich, AJ, Ezquerra, TA, Psarras, GC, Martin-Fabiani-Carrato, N, Ronca, S (2021) , Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 138(42), 51232, ISSN: 0021-8995. DOI: .

Martin-Fabiani-Carrato, N, Drakopoulos, SX, Forte, G, Prévost, S, Hoffmann, I, Ronca, S (2021) , ACS Macro Letters, 10(4), pp.460-465, ISSN: 2161-1653. DOI: .

He, B, Martin-Fabiani, I, Roth, R, Toth, G, Archer, A (2021) , Langmuir, 37(4), pp.1399-1409, ISSN: 0743-7463. DOI: .

Tangudom, P, Martin-Fabiani-Carrato, N, Prapagdee, B, Wimolmala, E, Markpin, T, Sombatsompop, N (2020) , Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, 40(13-14), pp.477-489, ISSN: 0731-6844. DOI: .

Dong, Y, Busatto, N, Roth, PJ, Martin-Fabiani, I (2020) , Soft Matter, ISSN: 1744-683X. DOI: .

Tinkler, J, Scacchi, A, Kothari, HR, Tulliver, H, Argaiz, M, Archer, A, Martin-Fabiani-Carrato, N (2020) , Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 581(Part B), pp.729-740, ISSN: 0021-9797. DOI: .

Drakopoulos, S, Tarallo, O, Guan, L, Martin-Fabiani-Carrato, N, Ronca, S (2020) , Molecules, 25(14), 3225, DOI: .

Dong, Y, Argaiz, M, He, B, Tomovska, R, Sun, T, Martin-Fabiani-Carrato, N (2020) , ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 2(2), pp.626-635, ISSN: 2637-6105. DOI: .

Robbins, AB, Drakopoulos, S, Martin-Fabiani, I, Ronca, S, Minnich, AJ (2019) , Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 116(35), pp.17163-17168, ISSN: 0027-8424. DOI: .

Richardson, PG, Martin-Fabiani, I, Shaw, P, Alsaffar, E, Velasquez, E, Gardner, P, Shaw, P, Adams, JM, Keddie, JL (2019) , Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 58(46), pp.21031-21043, ISSN: 0888-5885. DOI: .

Martin-Fabiani, I, Makepeace, DK, Richardson, PG, de la Haye, JL, Venero, DA, Rogers, SE, D’Agosto, F, Lansalot, M, Keddie, JL (2019) , Langmuir, 35(10), pp.3822-3831, ISSN: 0743-7463. DOI: .

Drakopoulos, S, Psarras, GC, Forte, G, Martin-Fabiani, I, Ronca, S (2018) , Polymer, ISSN: 0032-3861. DOI: .

Martin-Fabiani, I, de la Haye, JL, Schulz, M, Liu, Y, Lee, M, Duffy, B, D'Agosto, F, Lansalot, M, Keddie, JL (2018) , ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 10(13), pp.11221-11232, ISSN: 1944-8244. DOI: .

Martin-Fabiani, I, Koh, ML, Dalmas, F, Elidottir, KL, Hinder, SJ, Jurewicz, I, Lansalot, M, Bourgeat-Lami, E, Keddie, JL (2018) , ACS Applied Nano Materials, ISSN: 2574-0970. DOI: .

de la Haye, JL, Martin-Fabiani, I, Schulz, M, Keddie, JL, D'Agosto, F, Lansalot, M (2017) , MACROMOLECULES, 50(23), pp.9315-9328, ISSN: 0024-9297. DOI: .

Dehan, V, Bourgeat-Lami, E, D'Agosto, F, Duffy, B, Fortini, A, Hilton, S, Krassa, K, Keddie, JL, Koh, ML, Lansalot, M, Lee, M, de la Haye, JL, Martin-Fabiani, I, Mantzaridis, C, Mazeffa, DP, Sear, RP, Schulz, M, Sibbald, M, Skerry, B, Thomas, B (2017) , Steel Construction, 10(3), pp.254-259, ISSN: 1867-0520. DOI: .

Fortini, A, Martin-Fabiani, I, de la Haye, JL, Dugas, P-Y, Lansalot, M, D'Agosto, F, Bourgeat-Lami, E, Keddie, JL, Sear, RP (2016) , Physical Review Letters, 116(11), 118301, ISSN: 0031-9007. DOI: .

Martin-Fabiani, I, Fortini, A, de la Haye, JL, Koh, ML, Taylor, SE, Bourgeat-Lami, E, Lansalot, M, D'Agosto, F, Sear, RP, Keddie, JL (2016) , ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 8(50), pp.34755-34761, ISSN: 1944-8244. DOI: .

Rebollar, E, Rueda, DR, Martin-Fabiani, I, Rodriguez-Rodriguez, A, Garcia-Gutierrez, M-C, Portale, G, Castillejo, M, Ezquerra, TA (2015) , LANGMUIR, 31(13), pp.3973-3981, ISSN: 0743-7463. DOI: .

Rebollar, E, Rueda, DR, Martin-Fabiani, I, Rodriguez-Rodriguez, A, Garcia-Gutierrez, M-C, Portale, G, Castillejo, M, Ezquerra, TA (2015) , Langmuir, 31(13), pp.3973-3981, ISSN: 0743-7463. DOI: .

Martin-Fabiani, I, Rebollar, E, Garcia-Gutierrez, M-C, Rueda, DR, Castillejo, M, Ezquerra, TA (2015) , ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 7(5), pp.3162-3169, ISSN: 1944-8244. DOI: .

Martin-Fabiani, I, Riedel, S, Rueda, DR, Siegel, J, Boneberg, J, Ezquerra, TA, Nogales, A (2014) , Langmuir, 30(29), pp.8973-8979, ISSN: 0743-7463. DOI: .

Soccio, M, Alayo, N, Martin-Fabiani, I, Rueda, DR, Garcia-Gutierrez, M-C, Rebollar, E, Martinez-Tong, DE, Perez-Murano, F, Ezquerra, TA (2014) , Journal of Applied Crystallography, 47(2), pp.613-618, ISSN: 0021-8898. DOI: .

Soccio, M, Nogales, A, Martin-Fabiani, I, Lotti, N, Munari, A, Ezquerra, TA (2014) , Polymer (United Kingdom), 55(6), pp.1552-1559, ISSN: 0032-3861. DOI: .

Martín-Fabiani, I, Siegel, J, Riedel, S, Boneberg, J, Ezquerra, TA, Nogales, A (2013) , ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 5(21), pp.11402-11408, ISSN: 1944-8244. DOI: .

Martín-Fabiani, I, Linares, A, Nogales, A, Ezquerra, TA (2013) , Polymer, 54(21), pp.5892-5898, ISSN: 0032-3861. DOI: .

Martín-Fabiani, I, García-Gutiérrez, M-C, Rueda, DR, Linares, A, Hernández, JJ, Ezquerra, TA, Reynolds, M (2013) , ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 5(11), pp.5324-5329, ISSN: 1944-8244. DOI: .

García-Gutiérrez, M-C, Linares, A, Martín-Fabiani, I, Hernández, JJ, Soccio, M, Rueda, DR, Ezquerra, TA, Reynolds, M (2013) , Nanoscale, 5(13), pp.6006-6006, ISSN: 2040-3364. DOI: .

Rebollar, E, Vázquez de Aldana, JR, Martín-Fabiani, I, Hernández, M, Rueda, DR, Ezquerra, TA, Domingo, C, Moreno, P, Castillejo, M (2013) , Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 15(27), pp.11287-11287, ISSN: 1463-9076. DOI: .

Rueda, DR, Martín-Fabiani, I, Soccio, M, Alayo, N, Pérez-Murano, F, Rebollar, E, García-Gutiérrez, MC, Castillejo, M, Ezquerra, TA (2012) , Journal of Applied Crystallography, 45(5), pp.1038-1045, ISSN: 0021-8898. DOI: .

Martín-Fabiani, I, Rebollar, E, Pérez, S, Rueda, DR, García-Gutiérrez, MC, Szymczyk, A, Roslaniec, Z, Castillejo, M, Ezquerra, TA (2012) , Langmuir, 28(20), pp.7938-7945, ISSN: 0743-7463. DOI: .

González, M, Martín-Fabiani, I, Baselga, J, Pozuelo, J (2012) , Materials Chemistry and Physics, 132(2-3), pp.618-624, ISSN: 0254-0584. DOI: .

Rebollar, E, Sanz, M, Pérez, S, Hernández, M, Martín-Fabiani, I, Rueda, DR, Ezquerra, TA, Domingo, C, Castillejo, M (2012) , Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 14(45), pp.15699-15699, ISSN: 1463-9076. DOI: .

Rebollar, E, Pérez, S, Hernández, JJ, Martín-Fabiani, I, Rueda, DR, Ezquerra, TA, Castillejo, M (2011) , Langmuir, 27(9), pp.5596-5606, ISSN: 0743-7463. DOI: .

External collaborators:

  • Institute Charles Gerhard Montpellier (CNRS), France
  • Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, France
  • POLYMAT, University of the Basque Country, Spain
  • University of Turku, Finland
  • Ulster University, UK
  • New York University, USA
  • Hempel

Current External roles:

  • Secretary of the Join Colloids Group Committee (RSC/SCI)
  • External examiner for MSc Chemical Research at UCL
  • Associate Editor of Frontiers in Soft Matter

Previous External roles and appointments:

  • Facility Allocation Panel Member for the ISIS Neutron and Moun Source (2022-2025)
  • Materials Horizons Community Board Member (2021-2024)
  • EPSRC Engineering Early Career Forum member (2021-2024)