A DEVON university has been awarded close to £20million for research into metamaterials.

The University of Exeter will host a facility called The MetaHub.

The hub, which will be supported by £19.6 million in public and private backing, will develop metamaterials.

Metamaterials are 3D engineered structures – designed at the nanoscale – with properties not found in nature, allowing unprecedented control over light, heat, sound, and even the mechanics of materials.

MetaHUB will be directed by University of Exeter’s Professor Alastair Hibbins.

It will bring together a multi-disciplinary team of scientists from the Universities of Cambridge, Cardiff, St Andrews, Southampton, and King’s College London.

Professor Alastair Hibbins said: ‘We are incredibly excited to have won this EPSRC funding for a new hub in Metamaterials.

‘Over the next five years, we are committed to pioneer brand new science and pursue novel routes to fabrication and scale up of 3D nanoscale metamaterials.

‘Underpinning all of our activities will be the drive to ensure the materials we design and build are sustainable, and that the technology we develop and commercialise, will solve global challenges in health, energy, communication, computing and environmental sensing.’

Science Minister Lord Vallance announced the funding while on a visit to the University of Exeter’s Streatham Campus.

Lord Vallance said: ‘The work happening here in Exeter is a prime example of how cutting-edge research can attract private investment and drive economic growth, in every corner of the UK’.

MetaHUB builds on Exeter’s decade-long leadership in metamaterials research, including the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Metamaterials, the Centre for Metamaterial Research and Innovation (CMRI), and major research initiatives like TEAM-A, A-Meta, and Meta4D.

Professor Nick Stone, Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor, University of Exeter said: ‘I am delighted to see the award of such a prestigious Hub on Metamaterials to Exeter; recognising the strong leadership role Exeter Physics and Engineering have had in advancing the fundamental science and societal impact of Metamaterials in the UK over the last decade.’