Rate My Professor John Watts

John F. Watts is Professor of Materials Science in the School of Mechanical Engineering Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, at the University of Surrey. He holds PhD and DSc degrees, an honorary DUniv from Université Paris Diderot (2011), and is a Chartered Engineer (CEng), Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (FIMMM), Fellow of the Institute of Physics (FInstP), Chartered Physicist (CPhys), and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng). Having worked continuously in applied surface science since the late 1970s, he has published some 470 papers. His research specializations include the application of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) to materials science, cathodic delamination of organic coatings and adhesive joints, organic coatings for corrosion prevention, adhesive bonding for aerospace and automotive applications, surface modification of polymers, environmentally friendly pretreatments for adhesive bonding, high-energy XPS, and acid-base interactions in adhesion.

Watts has received numerous honors, including Le Prix Dédale from the Société Française de Vide, UK Surface Analysis Forum Rivière Prize (2010), British Vacuum Council Senior Prize and John Yarwood Memorial Medal (2008), Award for Excellence in Adhesive Science from The Adhesion Society Inc. (2008), Robert L. Patrick Fellowship of The Adhesion Society Inc. (2006), Alcoa Foundation Award (1992), and Redland Prize (1978). Key publications feature 'Reaction kinetics model in liquid and solid phases and its parameterization for room temperature sodium–sulfur battery' (AIChE Journal, 2026, with H. A. Adeoye et al.), 'Chemical and Electronic Structure of Buried W/Cu, W/Cr, and W/Mo Interfaces by In Situ XPS/HAXPES Auger Parameter Analysis' (Surface and Interface Analysis, 2025, with C. Cancellieri et al.), 'Imaging mass spectrometry: a new way to distinguish dermal contact from administration of cocaine, using a single fingerprint' (Analyst, 2021, with C. Costa et al.), 'A comparative study of the wear performance of hard coatings for nuclear applications' (Wear, 2022, with M. J. Whiting et al.), and 'Wear performance and characterisation of coatings for nuclear applications: WC-(W,Cr)2C-Ni and hard chromium plate' (Wear, 2019, with E. H. Williamson et al.). He serves as Editor in Chief of Surface and Interface Analysis (John Wiley & Sons Ltd), Editorial Board member of International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives, International Steering Committee member for the ECASIA Conference Series, Panel Member and Chairman of the EPSRC College (Structural Materials), and Organising Committee member for SIMS XVI.