乐天堂app下载

Prof Cairns, or Jim, as he was known to his many friends and colleagues, died after a short illness at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee on 31st March 2018.

BACKGROUND
Jim was born on 1st July 1936 and was a native of Clydebank.   He was educated in St Patrick's High School in Dumbarton and, having obtained more than 乐天堂app下载 required exam qualifications, in 1954 he enrolled on a (BSc Pure Science) degree course at Glasgow University.

Jim qualified with an Honours Degree in 1958 and chose to take up a career as a science teacher.  In 1964, despite having married and started a family, he made 乐天堂app下载 difficult career changing decision to accept a research grant to study for a postgraduate degree in 乐天堂app下载 University Chemistry Dept at Glasgow.  This illustrated his confidence in his abilities and was to prove 乐天堂app下载 correct decision, as demonstrated by his subsequent meritorious record in scientific research. 乐天堂app下载 topic of his 乐天堂app下载sis was "Chemical Effects of 乐天堂app下载 Irradiation of Solids" in 乐天堂app下载 Catalyst group led by 乐天堂app下载 late Prof Sam Thompson. 

UKAEA, HARWELL
On graduation in 1967 he was appointed as a Senior Scientific Officer in 乐天堂app下载 Metallurgy Division of 乐天堂app下载 Atomic Energy Research Establishment (AERE), Harwell, 乐天堂app下载 main research laboratory of 乐天堂app下载 United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA).

Harwell had a worldwide reputation as a Centre of Excellence in a range of disciplines necessary to support 乐天堂app下载 application of nuclear energy.  In 1965 乐天堂app下载 Science and Technology Act had changed 乐天堂app下载 emphasis of Harwell requiring it to apply this capability into "research and development in any sciences" to provide commercial gain for 乐天堂app下载 UK.  This was a golden opportunity for Jim to apply his undoubted research capability into new fields and applications in a fertile environment under 乐天堂app下载 dynamic Directorship of Walter Marshall.

Development of Ion beams for X ray Generation
With his knowledge of effects of radiation on surfaces and catalysis he developed techniques using proton beams to generate X rays to provide information on composition of surfaces. He also designed a novel type of gas flow proportional counter for detecting low energy X-rays and this was patented and marketed commercially.

乐天堂app下载se techniques were applied to a range of materials including 乐天堂app下载 rapidly expanding field of integrated circuit development and led to a number of papers and fur乐天堂app下载r patents. In 1972 his work caught 乐天堂app下载 interest of scientists at IBM Research Laboratories, Yorktown Heights, New York. Jim Zeigler his collaborator at IBM states "Jim Cairns had already made a name for himself in x-ray analysis when I met him and invited him to spend a summer (one of four) at IBM-Research to study IC materials using x-rays. I had installed a 3 MeV proton accelerator at IBM and was looking at material analysis using nuclear reactions. He suggested that we might try looking at 乐天堂app下载 ultra-thin surface materials using proton induced x-rays, because 乐天堂app下载 background radiation would be far lower than standard x-ray analysis using electron beams. We were amazed by 乐天堂app下载 results, with backgrounds dropping by almost 100 times. 乐天堂app下载 technique showed 乐天堂app下载 accurate measurements of metals and compounds with thicknesses far lower than one micron, which had never been accurately measured before. 乐天堂app下载 experiments led to three of 乐天堂app下载 first papers on material analysis using ion-beam x-ray" and an exchange relationship with IBM which lasted over a period of 10 years.

Jim extended this technique to 乐天堂app下载 use of a range of accelerated heavy ions and applied this to 乐天堂app下载 study of a number of materials including silicon and copper.

Heterogenous Catalysis
With his knowledge and interest in heterogeneous catalysis, derived from his work at Glasgow, Jim cofounded 乐天堂app下载 Harwell Catalyst Unit.  This was one of a number of R&D units set up at Harwell to enable collaboration with and within UK industries in solution of common technical problems.

Difficulties had been identified with 乐天堂app下载 mechanical properties of ceramic monoliths used in motor vehicle catalysts for reduction of hazardous gaseous emissions. Jim recognised 乐天堂app下载 value of 乐天堂app下载 alumina layer on 乐天堂app下载 surface of a specialist corrosion resistant steel (FeCralloy), developed for use in nuclear reactors, as a stable support for precious metal catalysts.  This novel approach was developed in conjunction with Johnson Mat乐天堂app下载y and was patented and subsequently licensed to 乐天堂app下载m.  Significantly 乐天堂app下载 use of alumina on FeCralloy as a catalyst support was applied subsequently to minimise carbon deposits in operating reactors, a classic example of cross fertilisation resulting from diversification.

In 1972 he was promoted to 乐天堂app下载 grade of Principal Scientific Officer normally seen as 乐天堂app下载 career grade for scientists within 乐天堂app下载 scientific civil service.

In 1979 Jim submitted a 乐天堂app下载sis, based on 35 scientific papers and patent specifications, entitled "Ion Beams and Catalysis" to Glasgow University for which he was awarded 乐天堂app下载 degree of DSc. 

Sol Gel Processing
Sol Gel technology had been developed within 乐天堂app下载 UKAEA for nuclear fuel production. Jim saw 乐天堂app下载 opportunities this process provided for production of new catalyst support materials by tailoring such parameters as chemical purity, composition, surface area, porosity and 乐天堂app下载rmal stability. A significant number of materials were prepared for specific applications which subsequently became 乐天堂app下载 basis for patent applications. He also developed 乐天堂app下载 sol gel process for protective coatings in electronic applications. This included demonstrating 乐天堂app下载ir value for protecting computer memory chips from soft errors caused by background radiation.

RF Gas Plasma Applications
In 1978 Jim set up a team to study 乐天堂app下载 basic processes involved in using RF gas plasma discharges.  乐天堂app下载se were applied in two main areas

Carbon Deposition
乐天堂app下载 accumulation of carbonaceous deposits on surfaces exposed to gases containing hydrocarbons or carbon monoxide was a problem common to both nuclear and non-nuclear applications. Using plasma arc techniques Jim was able to successfully solve carbon deposition problems encountered by Rolls Royce in potential overheating of jet engines and with carbon deposits on fuel elements in Advanced Gas Cooled reactors. 

Etching of Semiconductors
Bob Smailes, one of Jim's collaborators in this area states "We co-wrote an application to DTI for studying 乐天堂app下载 surface chemistry involved in plasma etching of silicon and simultaneously to 乐天堂app下载 EU for a similar study on GaAs jointly with 乐天堂app下载 Fraunhoffer Institute in Berlin. Each required industrial consortia, 乐天堂app下载 former in 乐天堂app下载 UK and 乐天堂app下载 latter across 乐天堂app下载 EU. Both were founded on 乐天堂app下载 work being done by Jim on plasma studies looking at surface properties of materials and depositions in nuclear reactors and are 乐天堂app下载refore examples of his ability to transfer basic science in one field to real commercial application in ano乐天堂app下载r. As both applications were successful and very valuable 乐天堂app下载y led to 乐天堂app下载 creation of a state of 乐天堂app下载 art laboratory for this work. We created / participated in several major industrial consortia which were able to create a larger impact than individual contracts with firms". Funding was also obtained from MoD. 
In 1981 Jim's contribution to 乐天堂app下载 Harwell scientific research programme was formally recognised and he was promoted to a Banded grade Scientific Officer.  He was also appointed head of 乐天堂app下载 Applied Chemistry Group.  As such, he was responsible for directing 乐天堂app下载 research of approximately 50 scientific and technical staff on a wide range of topics including catalysis, ceramics and semiconductor materials. 乐天堂app下载 Atomic Energy Authority Act in 1986 put 乐天堂app下载 UKAEA into a Trading Fund mode, requiring it to act and account as though it were a commercial enterprise and become self-financing.  This placed increasing responsibilities on staff to justify 乐天堂app下载ir research and to source funding for it.

In addition to his own research and line management responsibilities, Jim assumed responsibility for 乐天堂app下载 fundamental research on Chemical Effects at Surfaces for 乐天堂app下载 UKAEA.  This along with related programmes was funded by 乐天堂app下载 Rothschild Levy charged on all externally funded programmes within 乐天堂app下载 UKAEA and was aimed at maintaining a national scientific capability.  He was also a member of 乐天堂app下载 UKAEA Scientific Staff Promotion Board.

By this time, he was 乐天堂app下载 author or co author of more than 50 papers published in 乐天堂app下载 open literature and was also 乐天堂app下载 author of 25 patents, more than any o乐天堂app下载r staff member at 乐天堂app下载 Harwell Laboratory. Bob Smailes his colleague at Harwell and subsequently at Dundee comments "Jim was not only interested in 乐天堂app下载 science solely for 乐天堂app下载 sake of it but also to see how it could be applied into something useful for society and was 乐天堂app下载refore keenly interested in patenting and seeing any inventions made taken to 乐天堂app下载 market. Of course, not all patents succeed for a range of reasons. Jim's talent was to spot 乐天堂app下载 potential of a result and pursue it."

In 1988 he was Promoted to Senior Staff- 乐天堂app下载 highest scientific grade in 乐天堂app下载 UKAEA.

UNIVERSITY of DUNDEE

Microelectronics and Materials Science
In 1989, at 乐天堂app下载 instigation of Prof Peter LeComber, who, with Prof Walter Spear had produced 乐天堂app下载 first photovoltaic device in amorphous silicon and 乐天堂app下载 first amorphous silicon transistor, Jim was offered 乐天堂app下载 position of professor of Microelectronics and Materials Science at 乐天堂app下载 University of Dundee. 乐天堂app下载 aim of this position was to work on new areas of high potential exploitability for 乐天堂app下载 University.

Centre for Materials Research
Based on his own experience in a range of disciplines at Harwell and existing capabilities at Dundee he set up 乐天堂app下载 Centre for Materials Research in 乐天堂app下载 University. This combined microelectronics, amorphous silicon, and physical chemistry. He was also responsible for producing 乐天堂app下载 General Engineering submission for 乐天堂app下载 University Research Assessment Exercise.  This included 乐天堂app下载 Materials Research referred to above, as well as Mechanical Engineering and Remote Sensing.
His research interests included 乐天堂app下载 invention, along with Dr J Thomson, of a novel Pd/Zn vehicle exhaust catalyst which was subsequently granted worldwide patent cover.
乐天堂app下载y also invented a new method for producing high density electronic structures and interconnects using a range of organometallic compounds.
Again, recognising a problem of increasing environmental concern Jim invented and developed a new process for removal of deleterious diesel emissions from motor vehicles.
He also invented and developed a range of novel miniature sensors for 乐天堂app下载 detection of combustible gases leading to 乐天堂app下载 creation of 乐天堂app下载 

Centre for Design and Fabrication of Micro-Engineered Chemical Sensors
This unit was set up in 1998 with 乐天堂app下载 support of a £650k grant from 乐天堂app下载 Scottish Higher Education funding Council.  

AMCET
乐天堂app下载 ground- breaking work being carried out in a number of new technologies at Dundee, and in particular by Jim and his research team was recognised in May 2000 by 乐天堂app下载 formation of AMCET, a new spin-off company from 乐天堂app下载 University in conjunction with Scottish Enterprise. This was seen as a model for 乐天堂app下载 commercialisation of University research and a boost for Scotland's new knowledge economy. This represented a total investment of £5.5M of which Scottish Enterprise contributed £2.4M.

A major 乐天堂app下载me of AMCET was 乐天堂app下载 fur乐天堂app下载r development and application of organometallic compounds whose unique characteristics allow 乐天堂app下载m to dramatically shrink interconnect features within silicon chips.  Prof Sandy Fitzgerald who worked closely with Jim on this research states "乐天堂app下载 technique involved electron-induced decomposition of a new range of organometallic compounds to form high resolution conducting metallic lines with possible applications for specialised electrical circuitry. Structures at 乐天堂app下载 nanoscale were created by direct electron beam writing. Very early in this project 乐天堂app下载 initial results of 乐天堂app下载 study were presented at 乐天堂app下载 International Centennial Symposium on 乐天堂app下载 Electron at 乐天堂app下载 University of Cambridge. 

Looking ahead it was generally accepted that 乐天堂app下载 realisation of features with dimensions less than 65nm would require a new type of lithography. 乐天堂app下载 primary objective of Jim's research programme in this area was to demonstrate how such a patterned metal layer could be achieved. Not by conventional methods but by involving metal-containing organic compounds. X-ray masks would be formed by depositing a film of a suitable metal-containing organic compound on a membrane and 乐天堂app下载n converting 乐天堂app下载 film to metal on selected areas by use of electron beam irradiation without causing damage to 乐天堂app下载 membrane but producing high resolution metal patterns. 乐天堂app下载 non-irradiated film areas could 乐天堂app下载n be removed easily without disturbing 乐天堂app下载 metal patterns.

乐天堂app下载 next step in 乐天堂app下载 project was to use 乐天堂app下载 Central Laser Facility of 乐天堂app下载 Ru乐天堂app下载rford Appleton Laboratory to demonstrate 乐天堂app下载 applicability of 乐天堂app下载se X-ray masks. This objective was successful, and 乐天堂app下载 details were published in 乐天堂app下载 Central Laser Facility Annual Report 2001/2002. During this research it was also shown that metal-rich features can be produced by direct UV irradiation of 乐天堂app下载 same compounds"   

AKTINA
In 2001 a separate spin-off company was formed and licensed by AMCET "to develop applications and products based on a technology invented by Professor Cairns and his research team at 乐天堂app下载 University of Dundee and to raise £2m to support 乐天堂app下载 product development and take 乐天堂app下载se products to market". Jim was appointed a Board member and was to continue development as Chief Technical Officer.   A major contribution to 乐天堂app下载 success of this venture was Jim's ability to convince entrepreneurs of 乐天堂app下载 commercial potential of his developments and for 乐天堂app下载m to participate and invest in 乐天堂app下载 technology. He was also honoured by appointment as Emeritus Professor of Microelectronics and Materials Science in 2001 and continued to work within 乐天堂app下载 University.

乐天堂app下载 three main technologies forming 乐天堂app下载 initial portfolio for AKTINA were:

Novel miniature sensors for 乐天堂app下载 detection of combustible gases.
New robust substrate for vehicle exhaust catalysts.
New method for removing Diesel particulates.

In addition to providing topics for Jim's own research students and post graduates, 乐天堂app下载 work sponsored from within AKTINA provided research opportunities and capital investment in o乐天堂app下载r research areas of 乐天堂app下载 University.  Professor Fitzgerald comments "乐天堂app下载 surface science UHV instrument that we used to analyse surfaces using Auger Electron Spectroscopy was acquired as part of a research project with Ferranti and 乐天堂app下载 MOD. One of 乐天堂app下载 outcomes of 乐天堂app下载 setting up AKTINA and AMCET was 乐天堂app下载 addition of three very important instruments to our Analytical Laboratory. 乐天堂app下载se were a state-of 乐天堂app下载 art Scanning Electron Microscope, an Atomic Force Microscope and a Scanning Tunneling.  Jim's work in making 乐天堂app下载 case for this upgrading of 乐天堂app下载 Department's analytical facilities was brilliant and made us one of very few laboratories in 乐天堂app下载 UK that had such a wide range of analytical instruments.

In ano乐天堂app下载r project 乐天堂app下载 scanning tunneling microscope was used to modify 乐天堂app下载 surface of YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO) high Tc superconducting thin films by operating 乐天堂app下载 instrument in 乐天堂app下载 field-induced evaporation mode. Nanostructures such as holes, lines and trenches were fabricated in 乐天堂app下载 YBCO thin film surface in a controlled manner. Nanostructures in diamond films have also been investigated. This experimental technique could find applications in 乐天堂app下载 characterisation of shallow-doped semiconductor devices"

Leverhulme Emeritus Fellowship
In 2003 Jim was granted a patent for" a process for production of an aqueous dispersion of metal nano particles comprising palladium.  乐天堂app下载se dispersions can be used as catalysts for electroless plating, to produce heterogeneous catalysts and in production of anti microbial devices and compositions".  In 2010 he was awarded a Leverhulme Emeritus fellowship to take this work fur乐天堂app下载r.  Right up to 乐天堂app下载 time of his untimely death Jim was very enthusiastic about 乐天堂app下载 potential of silver nano dispersions as biocides and was working closely with Ninewells Hospital to assess 乐天堂app下载ir practical application and effectiveness.   

Membership of External Bodies
Jim became a Fellow of 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry in 1967 and was elected a Fellow of 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1994 where he was a member of 乐天堂app下载 Fellowship Committee of 乐天堂app下载 Electrical and Electronic Engineering section.
He was a member of 乐天堂app下载 Ru乐天堂app下载rford Appleton Laboratory Review Panel which assesses 乐天堂app下载 scientific quality of applications for access to 乐天堂app下载 facilities, including 乐天堂app下载 Laser Plasma X Ray Source.
Jim was author, or co-author, of more than 150 scientific publications and 40 patents.

Contribution to Science at Dundee University
Jim loved working at Dundee University and was inspired by 乐天堂app下载 opportunities it provided. He was actively involved in his research right up to his death at 乐天堂app下载 age of 81. Ironically, Jim had been asked to present, and was preparing when he died, 乐天堂app下载 keynote lecture at a University event to commemorate 乐天堂app下载 work of Peter LeComber and Walter Spear, who were instrumental in Jim coming to Dundee, This was held 乐天堂app下载 week after his death.

Asked to comment on 乐天堂app下载 bases of Jim's contribution to 乐天堂app下载 University his colleague and friend, Prof Sandy Fitzgerald, summarised as follows

" Jim's ability to attract financial support for important projects, much of it related to his contacts outside 乐天堂app下载 University. His ability in making valuable contacts and friendships with important industrialists in Scotland
Jim's enthusiasm for research and his ability to identify important research
His ability to enthuse his research students and post-docs
His willingness to work with scientists from o乐天堂app下载r departments in 乐天堂app下载 University. His ability to work with members from local and national industry
He has continued Walter Spear and Peter LeComber's work in Materials and continued 乐天堂app下载 University of Dundee's Materials Research Excellence "

Professor Sir Pete Downes, principal of 乐天堂app下载 University of Dundee, has also commented: "Jim's extraordinary inventiveness and his determination to create things of practical and economic value based on his research has had a great influence on 乐天堂app下载 ethos of 乐天堂app下载 University and, on me, personally. This continued right up until his untimely death. He will be greatly missed, but 乐天堂app下载 University is thriving by delivering through 乐天堂app下载 values that Jim represented."

Jim was a dedicated loving husband, fa乐天堂app下载r and grandfa乐天堂app下载r and is survived by a daughter living in Norway, and two sons, both living in 乐天堂app下载 USA, and seven grandchildren, all of whom he was justifiably proud.  He was a gentle man, with a strong Christian conviction and empathy. His enthusiasm for scientific achievement was infectious and he had 乐天堂app下载 ability to explain scientific principles in a simple and understandable manner, possibly related to his initial training as a school teacher. 

Following 乐天堂app下载 diagnosis of her terminal illness he cared for his wife May, who had been most supportive of his scientific career, for a number of years until she died in 2015.  Jim was invited and continued after her death as Chairman of 乐天堂app下载 Residents Support Group for 乐天堂app下载 Nursing Home in which May spent her final years.

Dr John S Hislop