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Professor Iakovos Tzanakis

Professor in Engineering Materials, University Research Impact Champion and Director of CAV-iT and MPM Group School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Role
Teaching and supervision
Research
Publications
Further details
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Role

Iakovos Tzanakis is a Professor in Engineering Materials and the University Research Impact Champion. He leads the Sustainable and Resilient Futures (SRF) Network, the Materials Processing and Modelling (MPM) research group, and is the lab lead for the Ultrasonics Cavitation Processing (CAV-iT) Lab.

Iakovos joined Oxford Brookes University as a Lecturer in 2016 gaining promotions to Senior Lecturer (2017), Reader (2018) and Professor in 2019. Prior to joining Oxford Brookes, Iakovos was a Research Fellow at BCAST, Brunel University London (2013–2016), where he pioneered advanced characterisation of ultrasonic cavitation in liquid aluminium as part of the EPSRC-funded UltraMelt project.

From 2010 to 2012, he worked as a Research Fellow at Bournemouth University, focusing on tribology and cavitation erosion of scroll expanders in collaboration with Energetix Group (UK).

He holds a PhD in Tribology and Design from Bournemouth University (2010), an MSc Energy Systems and the Environment from the University of Strathclyde (2007), and a BEng in Mechanical Engineering from Greece (2005).

Teaching and supervision

Courses

Modules taught

Iakovos is a module leader for the Engineering Materials module for Year 1 Engineering students (a cohort of more than 150 students).  His teaching focuses on applying ‘real-world’ engineering design and operations and includes the latest information relating to his research.

Supervision

Iakovos is currently supervising a number of Research Fellows, PhD and MSc students

Research Students

Name Thesis title Completed
Antim Gupta Optimisation strategy of VAWT farms based on advanced numerical modelling Active
Justin Morton On the fundamental mechanisms of ultrasonic assisted liquid phase exfoliation of two-dimensional nanomaterials 2022
Abhinav Priyardashi Influence of ultrasonic melt treatment on the fragmentation of primary intermetallics in Al based alloys 2022

Research

Iakovos main field of research is on the fundamentals and applications of cavitation processing and bubble dynamics, spanning both acoustic and hydrodynamic cavitation with major contributions to modern views in areas such as ultrasonic cavitation melt processing, degradation of PFAS chemicals and ultrasonic atomization for Additive Manufacturing.

He has established and leads a multi-disciplinary ultrasonic processing research facility within ECM with core activities ranging from structural materials (aluminum) and functional 2D nanomaterials (graphene) to composite systems (thermoplastic, metal-matrix), engineering emulsions (oil/water systems, self-lubricating monotectic alloys) and cavitation resistance materials (steels, thermal coatings) including application of hydrodynamic cavitation for production of 2Ds and water purification at a scale.

The focus of his work is primarily experimental, using advanced in-situ diagnostics:

  • a Photron SAZ-2100K high-speed camera capable of 2.1 million frames per seconds,
  • Particle Image Velocimetry (TSI), 
  • and synchrotron X-ray radiography

He also uses acoustic characterization tools, such as NPL-calibrated (in the range of 8 kHz–30 MHz) hydrophones and high-temperature cavitometers (up to 800 °C) with sensor probe size ranging from 10 μm to 4 mm. This advanced experimental configuration enables real-time monitoring of bubble activity and acoustic flows, resolving cavitation and shock wave spectra in various low and high temperature liquids for applications in materials processing, biomedical (e.g. cancer therapies) and energy (e.g. hydrogen and fuel cells).

Parallel activities include wind energy, tribological studies of biomimetic surfaces, and nanomaterial toxicity for drug delivery Iakovos is currently a Principal Investigator and Project Lead on several EPSRC, Royal Society, British Council and EU-funded projects. He has authored more than 100 publications (Scopus, H-index 30) with over 3000 citations.

Recent major projects

  • UltraMelt2 (EPSRC) – Scaling up eco-friendly cavitation melt treatment.
  • EcoUltra2D (EPSRC) – Developing sustainable, scalable ultrasonic exfoliation of 2D materials.

Groups

Groups

Projects as Principal Investigator, or Lead Academic if project is led by another Institution

  • Revolutionizing PFAS Removal: Green and Scalable Cavitation Technology for Industrial Water Reuse (led by Sabanci University) (01/02/2026 - 31/01/2029), funded by: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
  • Solution-processed Graphene-Metal Halide Perovskite sensors for Ozone detection (01/09/2025 - 31/08/2026), funded by: European Commission
  • AquaCav: Clean Water using the Power of Cavitation Bubbles (01/10/2024 - 30/09/2026), funded by: British Council
  • Large Scale Exfoliation of 2D nanomaterials using an Environmentaly Friendly Hybrid Cavitation Reactor (01/03/2023 - 28/02/2026), funded by: Royal Society, funding amount received by Brookes: £133,121
  • Seatwirl Co-Funded Studentship (01/01/2023 - 30/06/2026), funded by: SeaTwirl AB, funding amount received by Brookes: £46,294
  • Performance-driven design of Aluminium alloys for Additive Manufacturing (PAAM) (01/08/2022 - 31/07/2025), funded by: Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), funding amount received by Brookes: £358,184

Publications

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Further details

Academic distinctions and professional service

  • Listed in Stanford University’s top 2% of the world's scientists (2022-to date)
  • Guest Editor: (2021–present) for Ultrasonics Sonochemistry (IF: 8.7) and (2020-21) for Materials (IF: 3.7)
  • Reviewer for a number of funding bodies (EU, EPSRC, DFG etc.)
  • Consultant for ERC starting grant applications
  • External evaluator for promotions in Chinese Universities
  • Symposium co-organiser at the TMS Annual Meeting and Exhibition
  • Book chapters: Solidification Processing of Metallic Alloys Under External Fields (Springer, 2018) and Power Ultrasonics: A Handbook of Applications of High Power (Woodhead, 2021)

Public engagement and media coverage

Iakovos research has demonstrated far-reaching potential, receiving significant global attention and media visibility. His pioneering work on vertical-axis wind turbines has been featured in high-profile international outlets such as Forbes, The Independent, The New Yorker, and the Oxford Mail, reaching a diverse global audience. The coverage extended to podcasts and radio interviews on major stations such as MarketScale in the USA and Proto Thema Radio in Greece (segment in Greek, starts at 37 minutes onwards). In parallel, his groundbreaking research on sustainable wastewater treatment, particularly in tackling PFAS “forever chemicals,” has also drawn significant attention. It has been covered by BBC Radio, ITV and BBC News, and featured on the BBC Click technology show (watch from 9:45). This high-impact visibility highlights the interdisciplinary reach and societal relevance of Iakovos work across the energy and environmental sectors.