Staff profile

Research Grants

• 2020 (PI) “Safety and Fire reaction of structural power storage devices” (EPSRC: EP/T013044/1)
• 2017 – 2021 (Co-I) “ISCF Wave 1: North East Centre for Energy Materials” (EP/R021503/1) (formed between the universities of Newcastle, Durham and Northumbria) 
• 2016 – 2020 (PI) “Beyond structural: multifunctional composites that store electrical energy” (EPSRC: EP/P007546/1) (in collaboration with Imperial College London).
• 2014 (PI) “Autonomous smart sensors for structural health monitoring of wind turbine blades”, DEI Small grant, Durham University.

Research Interests

• Functional polymeric materials for energy applications, e.g. separators for batteries, electrolytes for supercapacitors;
• Porous polymers, synthesis, including emulsion templating, precipitation polymerisation, reaction-induced phase separation, and characterisation;
• Epoxy based materials, e.g. foams, electrolytes for structural supercapacitors;
• Fibre/matrix composites, e.g. carbon fibres/epoxy; their manufacturing and characterisation;
• Use of environmentally friendly and sustainable resources for polymer synthesis/manufacture, e.g. vegetable oils, and processes, e.g. printing.

Journal Article

• Addressing the stiffness–toughness conflict in hybrid double-network hydrogels through a design of experiments approach †
  Kopnar, V., Carlyle, L., Liu, E., Khaenyook, S., O'Connell, A., Shirshova, N., & Aufderhorst-Roberts, A. (2025). Addressing the stiffness–toughness conflict in hybrid double-network hydrogels through a design of experiments approach †. Soft Matter, 21, 3604-3612. https://doi.org/10.1039/d4sm01470g
• A critical review of structural supercapacitors and outlook on future research challenges
  Greenhalgh, E. S., Nguyen, S., Valkova, M., Shirshova, N., Shaffer, M. S., & Kucernak, A. (2023). A critical review of structural supercapacitors and outlook on future research challenges. Composites Science and Technology, 235, Article 109968. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2023.109968
• Decarbonising electrical grids using photovoltaics with enhanced capacity factors
  Williams, C., Michaels, H., Crossland, A. F., Zhang, Z., Shirshova, N., MacKenzie, R. C. I., Sun, H., Kettle, J., Freitag, M., & Groves, C. (2023). Decarbonising electrical grids using photovoltaics with enhanced capacity factors. Energy & Environmental Science, 16(10), 4650-4659. https://doi.org/10.1039/d3ee00633f
• The combustion behavior of epoxy‐based multifunctional electrolytes
  Shirshova, N., Rogaume, T., Najmi, H., & Poisson, M. (2022). The combustion behavior of epoxy‐based multifunctional electrolytes. Fire and Materials, 46(1), 192-204. https://doi.org/10.1002/fam.2967
• Biphasic epoxy-ionic liquid structural electrolytes: minimising feature size through cure cycle and multifunctional block-copolymer addition
  Wendong, Q., Dent, J., Arrighi, V., Cavalcanti, L., Shaffer, M. S., & Shirshova, N. (2021). Biphasic epoxy-ionic liquid structural electrolytes: minimising feature size through cure cycle and multifunctional block-copolymer addition. Multifunctional materials, 4(3), Article 035003. https://doi.org/10.1088/2399-7532/ac1ea7
• Performance of Bicontinuous Structural Electrolytes
  Tu, V., Asp, L. E., Shirshova, N., Larsson, F., Runesson, K., & Jänicke, R. (2020). Performance of Bicontinuous Structural Electrolytes. Multifunctional materials, 3(2), Article 025001. https://doi.org/10.1088/2399-7532/ab8d9b
• One step synthesis of MOF-polymer composites
  Le Calvez, C., Zouboulaki, M., Petit, C., Peeva, L., & Shirshova, N. (2016). One step synthesis of MOF-polymer composites. RSC Advances, 6(21), 17314-17317. https://doi.org/10.1039/c5ra25238e
• Mechanical, electrical and microstructural characterisation of multifunctional structural power composites
  Greenhalgh, E., Ankersen, J., Asp, L., Bismarck, A., Fontana, Q., Houlle, M., Kalinka, G., Kucernak, A., Mistry, M., Nguyen, S., Qian, H., Shaffer, M., Shirshova, N., Steinke, J., & Wienrich, M. (2015). Mechanical, electrical and microstructural characterisation of multifunctional structural power composites. Journal of Composite Materials, 49(15), 1823-1834. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021998314554125
• Multifunctional structural energy storage composite supercapacitors
  Shirshova, N., Qian, H., Houlle, M., Steinke, J., Kucernak, A., Fontana, Q., Greenhalgh, E., Bismarck, A., & Shaffer, M. (2014). Multifunctional structural energy storage composite supercapacitors. Faraday Discussions, 172, 81-103. https://doi.org/10.1039/c4fd00055b
• Composition as a Means to Control Morphology and Properties of Epoxy Based Dual-Phase Structural Electrolytes
  Shirshova, N., Bismarck, A., Greenhalgh, E. S., Johansson, P., Kalinka, G., Marczewski, M. J., Shaffer, M. S., & Wienrich, M. (2014). Composition as a Means to Control Morphology and Properties of Epoxy Based Dual-Phase Structural Electrolytes. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 118(49), 28377-28387. https://doi.org/10.1021/jp507952b
• Non-aqueous high internal phase emulsion templates for synthesis of macroporous polymers in situ filled with cyclic carbonate electrolytes
  Kot, E., Shirshova, N., Bismarck, A., & Steinke, J. (2014). Non-aqueous high internal phase emulsion templates for synthesis of macroporous polymers in situ filled with cyclic carbonate electrolytes. RSC Advances, 4(22), 11512-11519. https://doi.org/10.1039/c4ra00118d
• Activation of structural carbon fibres for potential applications in multifunctional structural supercapacitors
  Qian, H., Diao, H., Shirshova, N., Greenhalgh, E., Steinke, J., Shaffer, M., & Bismarck, A. (2013). Activation of structural carbon fibres for potential applications in multifunctional structural supercapacitors. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 395, 241-248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2012.12.015
• Structural composite supercapacitors
  Shirshova, N., Qian, H., Shaffer, M., Steinke, J., Greenhalgh, E., Curtis, P., Kucernak, A., & Bismarck, A. (2013). Structural composite supercapacitors. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 46, 96-107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesa.2012.10.007
• Structural supercapacitor electrolytes based on bicontinuous ionic liquid-epoxy resin systems
  Shirshova, N., Bismarck, A., Carreyette, S., Fontana, Q., Greenhalgh, E., Jacobsson, P., Johansson, P., Marczewski, M., Kalinka, G., Kucernak, A., Scheers, J., Shaffer, M., Steinke, J., & Wienrich, M. (2013). Structural supercapacitor electrolytes based on bicontinuous ionic liquid-epoxy resin systems. Journal of Materials Chemistry A: materials for energy and sustainability, 1(48), 15300-15309. https://doi.org/10.1039/c3ta13163g
• Polymerised high internal phase ionic liquid-in-oil emulsions as potential separators for lithium ion batteries
  Shirshova, N., Johansson, P., Marczewski, M., Kot, E., Ensling, D., Bismarck, A., & Steinke, J. (2013). Polymerised high internal phase ionic liquid-in-oil emulsions as potential separators for lithium ion batteries. Journal of Materials Chemistry A: materials for energy and sustainability, 1(34), 9612-9619. https://doi.org/10.1039/c3ta10856b
• A new series of cross-linked (meth)acrylate polymer electrolytes for energy storage
  Krebs, H., Yang, L., Shirshova, N., & Steinke, J. (2012). A new series of cross-linked (meth)acrylate polymer electrolytes for energy storage. Reactive and Functional Polymers, 72(12), 931-938. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2012.08.011
• In-situ preparation of polymer scaffolds in retarded cement slurries: An emulsion templating approach for rapid, on-demand strength development
  Shirshova, N., & Bismarck, A. (2012). In-situ preparation of polymer scaffolds in retarded cement slurries: An emulsion templating approach for rapid, on-demand strength development. Cement and Concrete Composites, 34(3), 337-341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2011.11.007
• Polymerised high internal phase emulsion cement hybrids: Macroporous polymer scaffolds for setting cements
  Shirshova, N., Menner, A., Funkhouser, G., & Bismarck, A. (2011). Polymerised high internal phase emulsion cement hybrids: Macroporous polymer scaffolds for setting cements. Cement and Concrete Research, 41(4), 443-450. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2011.01.017
• Ionic Liquids as Internal Phase for Non-Aqueous PolyHIPEs
  Shirshova, N., Bismarck, A., & Steinke, J. (2011). Ionic Liquids as Internal Phase for Non-Aqueous PolyHIPEs. Macromolecular Rapid Communications, 32(23), 1899-1904. https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.201100472
• Hyperbranched (Co)polymers via free radical polymerization of polymerizable Barton esters
  Cormack, P., Shirshova, N., & Steinke, J. (2005). Hyperbranched (Co)polymers via free radical polymerization of polymerizable Barton esters. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 44(23), 8699-8706. https://doi.org/10.1021/ie048770x
• Synthesis of stable aragonite superstructures by a biomimetic crystallization pathway
  Nassif, N., Gehrke, N., Pinna, N., Shirshova, N., Tauer, K., Antonietti, M., & Colfen, H. (2005). Synthesis of stable aragonite superstructures by a biomimetic crystallization pathway. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 44(37), 6004-6009. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.200500081
• Preparation and application of double hydrophilic block copolymer particles
  Tauer, K., Khrenov, V., Shirshova, N., & Nassif, N. (2005). Preparation and application of double hydrophilic block copolymer particles. Macromolecular Symposia, 226, 187-201. https://doi.org/10.1002/masy.200550818