Dr Anthony Higgins

Associate Professor

Biomedical Engineering

+44 (0) 1792 602274

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Office - 426
Fourth Floor
Engineering North
Bay Campus

Available For Postgraduate Supervision

Research Links

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2804-8164

About

My research is on Polymer Physics, which falls within the broad subject of Soft Matter. My focus is on the behaviour of macromolecules at interfaces and in thin films.

My work investigates the behaviour of polymer-based systems including amorphous/flexible polymers, semi-conducting (conjugated) polymers and polymer/small-molecule (eg fullerene) mixtures. I utilise experimental techniques such as neutron and x-ray scattering, optical microscopy and scanning probe microscopy to probe fundamental aspects of behaviour (such as mixing thermodynamics).

BACKGROUND

My interest in Soft Matter began when undertaking a PhD (on granular materials) under the supervision of Sam Edwards at the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge. I then worked in industrial research (Courtaulds plc, Coventry), on computational & experimental aspects of polymer processing for 6 years. This was followed by 6 years as a post-doctoral researcher working on polymer thin films and interfaces (investigating dewetting, protein adsorption/conformational-change and conjugated polymer thin-films) within the group of Richard Jones in Sheffield University Physics department. I joined Swansea University in 2004.

Publications

Research Highlights

Higgins, A., Gutfreund, P., Italia, V., & Hynes, E. (2023). Equilibration and thermal reversibility in mixtures of model OPV small-molecules and polymers. Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 11(6), 2107-2119.
https://doi.org/10.1039/d2tc04916c, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62440
Hynes, E., Gutfreund, P., Parnell, A., & Higgins, A. (2020). Liquid–liquid equilibrium in polymer–fullerene mixtures; an in situ neutron reflectivity study. Soft Matter, 16, 3727-3739.
https://doi.org/10.1039/c9sm02337b, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa53337
Hynes, E., Cabral, J., Parnell, A., Gutfreund, P., Welbourn, R., Dunbar, A., Môn, D., Higgins, A., & Higgins, A. (2019). Interfacial width and phase equilibrium in polymer-fullerene thin-films. Communications Physics, 2(1)
https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-019-0211-z, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa51432
Pont, S., Foglia, F., Higgins, A., Durrant, J., & Cabral, J. (2018). Stability of Polymer:PCBM Thin Films under Competitive Illumination and Thermal Stress. Advanced Functional Materials, 28(40)
https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201802520, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa41025
Môn, D., Higgins, A., Gutfreund, P., & James, D. (2017). Mixing in PCBM/P3HT bilayers, using in situ and ex situ neutron reflectivity. Journal of Materials Research, 1-11.
https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2017.59, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa31856
Môn, D., Higgins, A., James, D., Hampton, M., Macdonald, J., Ward, M., Gutfreund, P., Lilliu, S., & Rawle, J. (2015). Bimodal crystallization at polymer–fullerene interfaces. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 17(3), 2216-2227.
https://doi.org/10.1039/c4cp04253k, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa20765
James, D., Higgins, A., Rees, P., Geoghegan, M., Brown, M., Chang, S., Môn, D., Cubitt, R., Dalgliesh, R., Gutfreund, P., & Brown, R. (2015). Measurement of molecular mixing at a conjugated polymer interface by specular and off-specular neutron scattering. Soft Matter, 11(48), 9393-9403.
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5SM02008E, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa26063
Wong, H., Wildes, A., Douglas, J., Cabral, J., & Higgins, A. (2013). Patterning Polymer-Fullerene Nanocomposite Thin Films with Light. Advanced Materials, 25, 985-991.
https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201203541, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa15321
Rodríguez, A., Tomlinson, M., Khodabakhsh, S., Chang, J., Cousin, F., Lott, D., Sirringhaus, H., Huck, W., Higgins, A., & Geoghegan, M. (2013). All-polymer field-effect transistors using a brush gate dielectric. Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 1(46), 7736
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TC31076K, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa20766
Chang, S., Tsoi, W., Higgins, A., Kim, J., Winfield, J., James, D., & Tsoi, W. (2010). Self-Assembled, Molecularly Aligned Conjugated Polymer Nanowires via Dewetting. Advanced Functional Materials, 20(18), 3045-3054.
https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201000830, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa5783

All Research

Journal Articles

Higgins, A., Gutfreund, P., ITALIA, V., Nelson, A., Cabral, J., & Hynes, E. (2024). Hysteresis in phase volumes, compositions and interfacial roughness in model OPV-small-molecule/polymer thin-films. Soft Matter, 20(11), 2532-2546.
https://doi.org/10.1039/d3sm01066j, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65633
Higgins, A., Gutfreund, P., Italia, V., & Hynes, E. (2023). Equilibration and thermal reversibility in mixtures of model OPV small-molecules and polymers. Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 11(6), 2107-2119.
https://doi.org/10.1039/d2tc04916c, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62440
Hynes, E., Gutfreund, P., Parnell, A., & Higgins, A. (2020). Liquid–liquid equilibrium in polymer–fullerene mixtures; an in situ neutron reflectivity study. Soft Matter, 16, 3727-3739.
https://doi.org/10.1039/c9sm02337b, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa53337
Hynes, E., Cabral, J., Parnell, A., Gutfreund, P., Welbourn, R., Dunbar, A., Môn, D., Higgins, A., & Higgins, A. (2019). Interfacial width and phase equilibrium in polymer-fullerene thin-films. Communications Physics, 2(1)
https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-019-0211-z, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa51432
Pont, S., Foglia, F., Higgins, A., Durrant, J., & Cabral, J. (2018). Stability of Polymer:PCBM Thin Films under Competitive Illumination and Thermal Stress. Advanced Functional Materials, 28(40)
https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201802520, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa41025
Môn, D., Higgins, A., Gutfreund, P., & James, D. (2017). Mixing in PCBM/P3HT bilayers, using in situ and ex situ neutron reflectivity. Journal of Materials Research, 1-11.
https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2017.59, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa31856
Môn, D., Higgins, A., James, D., Hampton, M., Macdonald, J., Ward, M., Gutfreund, P., Lilliu, S., & Rawle, J. (2015). Bimodal crystallization at polymer–fullerene interfaces. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 17(3), 2216-2227.
https://doi.org/10.1039/c4cp04253k, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa20765
James, D., Higgins, A., Rees, P., Geoghegan, M., Brown, M., Chang, S., Môn, D., Cubitt, R., Dalgliesh, R., Gutfreund, P., & Brown, R. (2015). Measurement of molecular mixing at a conjugated polymer interface by specular and off-specular neutron scattering. Soft Matter, 11(48), 9393-9403.
https://doi.org/10.1039/C5SM02008E, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa26063
Wong, H., Wildes, A., Douglas, J., Cabral, J., & Higgins, A. (2013). Patterning Polymer-Fullerene Nanocomposite Thin Films with Light. Advanced Materials, 25, 985-991.
https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201203541, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa15321
Rodríguez, A., Tomlinson, M., Khodabakhsh, S., Chang, J., Cousin, F., Lott, D., Sirringhaus, H., Huck, W., Higgins, A., & Geoghegan, M. (2013). All-polymer field-effect transistors using a brush gate dielectric. Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 1(46), 7736
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TC31076K, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa20766
Chang, S., Tsoi, W., Higgins, A., Kim, J., Winfield, J., James, D., & Tsoi, W. (2010). Self-Assembled, Molecularly Aligned Conjugated Polymer Nanowires via Dewetting. Advanced Functional Materials, 20(18), 3045-3054.
https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201000830, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa5783
Higgins, A., Cadby, A., Lidzey, D., Dalgliesh, R., Geoghegan, M., Jones, R., Martin, S., & Heriot, S. (2009). The Impact of Interfacial Mixing on Förster Transfer at Conjugated Polymer Heterojunctions. Advanced Functional Materials, 19(1), 157-163.
https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.200800887, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa5780
Chang, S., Rodríguez, A., Higgins, A., Liu, C., Geoghegan, M., Sirringhaus, H., Cousin, F., Dalgleish, R., & Deng, Y. (2008). Control of roughness at interfaces and the impact on charge mobility in all-polymer field-effect transistors. Soft Matter, 4(11), 2220-2224.
https://doi.org/10.1039/b810278c, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa5781
Pinto, J., Whiting, G., Khodabakhsh, S., Torre, L., Rodríguez, A., Dalgliesh, R., Higgins, A., Andreasen, J., Nielsen, M., Geoghegan, M., Huck, W., Sirringhaus, H., & Higgins, A. (2008). Organic Thin Film Transistors with Polymer Brush Gate Dielectrics Synthesized by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization. Advanced Functional Materials, 18(1), 36-43.
https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.200700540, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa5782
Silva, J., Geoghegan, M., Higgins, A., Krausch, G., David, M., Reiter, G., & Higgins, A. (2007). Switching Layer Stability in a Polymer Bilayer by Thickness Variation. Physical Review Letters, 98(26)
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.267802, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa1863
Higgins, A., Martin, S., Geoghegan, M., Heriot, S., Thompson, R., Cubitt, R., Dalgliesh, R., Grizzi, I., & Jones, R. (2006). Interfacial structure in conjugated polymers; Characterization and control of the interface between poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) and poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole).. Macromolecules, 39, 6699-6707.
https://doi.org/10.1021/ma060072w, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa1860
Higgins, A. (2005). Surface segregation and self stratification in blends of spin-cast polyfluorene derivatives.. Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 17, 1319-1328.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa13777
Chappell, J., Lidzey, D., Jukes, P., Higgins, A., Thompson, R., O'Connor, S., Grizzi, I., Fletcher, R., O'Brien, J., Geoghegan, M., & Jones, R. (2003). Correlating nanostructure with fluorescence emission in phase-separated polyfluorene polymer blends. Nature Materials, 2, 616-621.
https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat959, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa1861
Higgins, A., Jukes, P., Martin, S., Geoghegan, M., Jones, R., Cubitt, R., & Higgins, A. (2002). A neutron reflectometry study of the interface between poly(9,9 dioctylfluorene) and poly(methylmethacrylate). Applied Physics Letters, 81, 4949-4951.
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1532531, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa1862
Higgins, A. & Jones, R. A, L. (2000). Anisotropic spinodal dewetting as a route to self assembly of patterned surfaces.. Nature, 404, 476-478.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa13778

Supervision

Equilibrium/Non-equilibrium Behaviour in Polymer/Small-molecule Mixtures for Organic Photovoltaic (OPV) Applications. (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Rob Daniels

Taught Modules

EG-002 Foundation Mathematics for Engineers II

This module will introduce some of the key mathematical techniques used in engineering including integration and differentiation
EG-003 Applied Engineering

This course provides an introduction to the principles of statics, dynamics and thermo-fluid mechanics relevant to engineering. A practical component will be used to complement taught theory.
EG-060 Mechanics

Introductory Newtonian mechanics at Foundation level.
EG-232 Multivariable Calculus for Medical Engineers

Module aims to build upon Year 1 mathematics modules to provide tools required for practical execution of mathematical operations. Application areas from image analysis to the characterisation flow fields, amongst others, will be studied in the context of this mathematical module. From transform functions to gradient operators, these mathematical tools will be studied in their fundamentals before being applied to biomedical application areas. This mathematics module aims to: provide further fundamental analysis tools for engineering applications; and provide a bridge towards advanced analytical modules in Year 2 and 3.

Career History

Senior Lecturer, Multidisciplinary Nanotechnology Centre (MNC), Swansea University

2011 - Present
Lecturer, Multidisciplinary Nanotechnology Centre (MNC), Swansea University

2004 - 2011
Post-Doctoral Researcher, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Sheffield

1998 - 2004
Scientist & Principal Scientist, Research & Technology, Courtaulds plc, Coventry

1992 - 1998
PhD Theoretical Condensed Matter, Department of Physics, Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge University

1988 - 1992
BSc Physics, Imperial College London

1986 - 1989

Dr Anthony Higgins

Telephone number

Email address

Research Links

About

BACKGROUND

Publications

Research Highlights

All Research

Journal Articles

Supervision

Equilibrium/Non-equilibrium Behaviour in Polymer/Small-molecule Mixtures for Organic Photovoltaic (OPV) Applications. (current)

Taught Modules

EG-002 Foundation Mathematics for Engineers II

EG-003 Applied Engineering

EG-060 Mechanics

EG-232 Multivariable Calculus for Medical Engineers

Career History

Senior Lecturer, Multidisciplinary Nanotechnology Centre (MNC), Swansea University

Lecturer, Multidisciplinary Nanotechnology Centre (MNC), Swansea University

Post-Doctoral Researcher, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Sheffield

Scientist & Principal Scientist, Research & Technology, Courtaulds plc, Coventry

PhD Theoretical Condensed Matter, Department of Physics, Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge University

BSc Physics, Imperial College London