Menu
Close
Sign up for NPL updates
Close
Sign up for NPL updates

For people, place, prosperity and planet, we deliver impact with measurement science

Our use of cookies

We use necessary cookies to make our site work. We'd also like to set optional analytics cookies to help us improve it. We won't set optional cookies unless you enable them.

Necessary cookies

Necessary cookies enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility. We do not use cookies for marketing purposes.

Analytics cookies

We utilise Google Analytics cookies to help us to improve our website by collecting information on how it's used.
Find out more

Research

Electronic and magnetic materials

We help bring new devices to market more quickly

Our world-class electronics and magnetics experts help industry innovate with confidence

Advancements in electronic and magnetic materials are at the forefront of a range of developing industries and innovations, from the aerospace and energy sectors to wearable and implantable electronics.

New innovations need new measurement solutions. We underpin these advances, giving industry confidence in the safety and reliability of products and verifying performance to drive consumer and investor uptake.

Electronic and magnetic materials will continue to be developed and new commercial applications sought for them by industry. We continually develop new measurement techniques and facilities, enabling industry and society to swiftly and safely exploit and innovate.

Contact us

Advanced materials metrology strategy

Discover how we are identifying how critical drivers of change, including the energy and the digital transitions, require innovation in measurement capability and a new approach to delivering the UK materials metrology infrastructure.


Download the strategy

Our research

Our multidisciplinary team uses world-leading measurement to support the advancement of electronic and magnetic materials, from helping to produce new devices to testing materials in operational conditions. Areas we specialise in include:

Smart and emerging materials

We characterise materials for nanoelectronics, printed electronics and additively-manufactured devices

Electronics interconnects

We provide bespoke research, reliability assessments and lifetime predictions for advanced electronic substrates and attachment solutions

Magnetics

We continuously develop our measurement techniques to give us a unique and evolving range of facilities for magnetic measurements

Photovoltaics

We offer an advanced measurement and testing platform to support the development, competitiveness and exploitation of photovoltaic technologies

Nanoscale characterisation

We support the development of electronic products through advanced nanoscale measurements

Electric and hybrid propulsion

We help industry develop and deliver continuous improvements in electric propulsion technology for automotive and aerospace sectors

Non-destructive testing, reliability and lifetime assessment

We develop bespoke instrumentation and measurement solutions for component testing, infrastructure monitoring and in-service assessment

Semiconductor Metrology

Discover UK Semiconductor Innovation with The National Physical Laboratory’s Precision Standards. Discover how NPL drives UK semiconductor advancement through cutting-edge metrology.

Our projects

Metrology in manufacturing compound semiconductors for power electronics
Metrology of magnetic losses in electrical steel sheets for high-efficiency energy conversion

Our services

Customers from industries including automotive, manufacturing, aerospace, defence, IT, telecoms, energy and utilities depend upon our work to drive innovation.

Case study

Improving yield estimates in bifacial photovoltaics

Article

Case study

Accelerating the production of composites to decarbonise aviation

Article

Case study

Measuring large-scale, fine-feature printed electronics

Article

Our resources

We have a number of freely available publications, good practice guides and webinars. Search our comprehensive list of resources.

Resources

Our team

We have a team of world leading scientists specialising in consultancy and measurement services. Take a look at our electronic and magnetic materials team.
View our team