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

Dr Nik Reeves-McLaren
Profile picture of Dr Nik Reeves-McLaren
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 爆料TV 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 鈥 including phase diagram determination and operando characterisation  鈥   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:

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

Publications

Books

  • Reeves-McLaren N () . AIP Publishing LLCMelville, New York.

Journal articles

  • Ren Z, Pisch A, Georget F, Matschei T, Pesce C, Reeves-McLaren N & Hanein T (2026) . Cement and Concrete Research, 204, 108187-108187.
  • Martin DZC, Boston R, Adedayo BA, Smith R, Baker PJ, Diaz-Lopez M, Celorrio V & Reeves-McLaren N (2025) . Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics.
  • Nohl JF, Farr NTH, Acocella MR, Knight AJ, Hughes GM, Zhang J, Robertson S, Micklethwaite S, Murphy S, Motlov谩 T , Walker C et al (2025) . Advanced Science.
  • Wilson G, Reeves-McLaren N & Boston R (2023) . Materials Research Express, 10(7).
  • Venegas CJ, Gutierrez FA, Reeves-McLaren N, Rivas GA, Ruiz-Le贸n D & Bollo S (2023) . Micromachines, 14(5).
  • Zilinskaite S, Reeves-McLaren N & Boston R (2022) . Frontiers in Energy Research, 10.
  • Fish KE, Reeves-McLaren N, Husband S & Boxall J (2020) . npj Biofilms and Microbiomes, 6.
  • Moran RF, Fernandes A, Dawson DM, Sneddon S, Gandy AS, Reeves-McLaren N, Whittle KR & Ashbrook SE (2020) . The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 124(31), 17073-17084.
  • Zheng P, Su J, Wang Y, Zhou W, Song J, Su Q, Reeves鈥怣cLaren N & Guo S (2020) . ChemSusChem, 13(7), 1793-1799.
  • Venegas CJ, Gutierrez FA, Egu铆laz M, Marco JF, Reeves-McLaren N, Rivas GA, Ruiz-Le贸n D & Bollo S (2019) . Nanomaterials, 9(11).
  • Martin DZC, Haworth AR, Schmidt WL, Baker PJ, Boston R, Johnston KE & Reeves-McLaren N (2019) . Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 21(41), 23111-23118.
  • Ros FC, Reeves-McLaren N, Mas贸 N & West AR (2019) . Journal of the Australian Ceramic Society, 55(2), 305-314.
  • Mottram L, Martin D, Reeves-McLaren N & Boston RH (2018) . Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 101(10), 4468-4471.
  • Zilinskaite S, Rennie A, Boston R & Reeves-McLaren N (2018) . Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 6(13), 5346-5355.
  • Ryabenkova Y, Jadav N, Conte M, Hippler MFA, Reeves-McLaren N, Coates PD, Twigg P & Paradkar A (2017) . Langmuir, 33(12), 2965-2976.
  • Reeves N, Sharp J, Beltran Mir H, Rainforth WM & West AR (2016) . Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 472(2185).
  • Chen Y-C, Reeves-McLaren N, Tan CC, Bingham PA, Forder SD & West AR (2016) . Dalton Transactions, 45(1), 315-323.
  • West AR, Jarkaneh R, Dong B, Hull S, Reeves-McLaren N & Biendicho J (2016) . Journal of Materials Chemistry A(4), 1408-1413.
  • Szumiata T, Gzik-Szumiata M, Brz贸zka K, G贸rka B, Gawro艅ski M, Caruana Finkel A, Reeves-Mclaren N & Morley NA (2015) . Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, 401, 943-948.
  • Morley NA, Finkel AC, Yang W & Reeves-Mclaren N (2014) . IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, 50(11).
  • Caruana Finkel A, Reeves-Mclaren N & Morley NA (2014) . Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, 357, 87-92.
  • Bingham PA, Hannant OM, Reeves-Mclaren N, Stennett MC & Hand RJ (2014) . Journal of Non Crystalline Solids, 387, 47-56.
  • Kotapati S, Javed A, Reeves-Mclaren N, Gibbs MRJ & Morley NA (2013) . 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) . Crystengcomm, 15(10), 1853-1859.
  • Chen Y-C, Reeves-McLaren N, Bingham PA, Forder SD & West AR (2012) . Inorg Chem, 51(15), 8073-8082.
  • Reeves-McLaren N, Smith RI & West AR (2011) . CHEM MATER, 23(15), 3556-3563.
  • Gillie LJ, de Souza SA, Sheptyakov D, Reeves鈥怣cLaren N, Pasero D & West AR (2011) . 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) . J AM CERAM SOC, 93(10), 2960-2963.
  • Wu H, Reeves-McLaren N, Pokorny J, Yarwood J & West AR (2010) . CRYST GROWTH DES, 10(7), 3141-3148.
  • Wu H, Reeves-McLaren N, Jones S, Ristic RI, Fairclough JPA & West AR (2010) . CRYST GROWTH DES, 10(2), 988-994.
  • Pasero D, Reeves N, Pralong V & West AR (2008) . J ELECTROCHEM SOC, 155(4), A282-A291.
  • Pasero D, Reeves N, Gillie LJ & West AR (2007) . JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES, 174(2), 1078-1081.
  • Pasero D, Reeves N, Gillie L, Pralong V & West AR (2007) . J ELECTROCHEM SOC, 154(8), A760-A769.
  • Reeves N, Pasero D & West AR (2007) . 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) . J POWER SOURCES, 141(1), 156-158.
  • Chia F, Zheng Y, Liu J, Reeves N, Ungar G & Wright PV (2003) . 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 () . Dalton Transactions.
  • Reeves-McLaren N & Moth-Lund Christensen S () . Journal of Materials Chemistry A.
  • Gandy AS, Jim B, Coe G, Patel D, Hardwick L, Akhmadaliev S, Reeves-McLaren N & Goodall R () . Frontiers in Materials, 6.
  • Toolan D, Isakova A, Hodgkinson R, Reeves-McLaren N, Hammond OS, Edler KJ, Briscoe WH, Arnold T, Gough T, Topham PD & Howse JR () . Macromolecules, 49(12), 4579-4586.

Book chapters

  • Reeves-McLaren N (2022) , Inside Energy Storage Materials AIP Publishing LLCMelville, New York
  • Reeves-McLaren N (2022) , Inside Energy Storage Materials AIP Publishing LLCMelville, New York
  • Reeves-McLaren N (2022) , Inside Energy Storage Materials AIP Publishing LLCMelville, New York
  • Reeves-McLaren N (2022) , Inside Energy Storage Materials AIP Publishing LLCMelville, New York
  • Reeves-McLaren N (2022) , Inside Energy Storage Materials AIP Publishing LLCMelville, New York
  • Reeves-McLaren N (2022) , Inside Energy Storage Materials AIP Publishing LLCMelville, New York
  • Reeves-McLaren N (2022) , Inside Energy Storage Materials AIP Publishing LLCMelville, New York
  • Reeves-McLaren N (2022) , Inside Energy Storage Materials AIP Publishing LLCMelville, New York

Conference proceedings

  • Wilson G, Zilinskaite S, Unka S, Boston R & Reeves-McLaren N (2020) . 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) . Energy Procedia, Vol. 151 (pp 158-162). Sheffield, UK, 11 September 2018 - 11 September 2018.
  • 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