Professor Jon Willmott

PhD, MPhys

School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Professor of Metrology

Semiconductor Materials and Devices Research Group

Headshot of Jon Wilmott
Profile picture of Headshot of Jon Wilmott
j.r.willmott@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 5436

Full contact details

Professor Jon Willmott
School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Profile

My Sensor Systems Research Group is part of the University’s . Within the ADC we are able to grow novel semiconductor detectors and use them as the sensing element for novel thermal imaging and other optoelectronic devices.

I received my masters and PhD degrees in physics from the University of Southampton in 1999 and 2003 respectively.

After two years as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Liquid Crystal research at the University of Cambridge I moved to the company Land Instruments International (now part of AMETEK Inc.)

In industry, I designed thermal imaging cameras, radiation thermometers and other ‘non-contact’ scientific instruments. In addition to optical, mechanical and electronic design skills, I also developed a fundamental understanding of temperature measurement science (metrology).

Following more than a decade in industry, I moved to the University of Sheffield in 2015 with an EPSRC Established Career Fellowship. My group’s aim is to push forward temperature measurement science and imaging, particularly within manufacturing.

However, we are interested in all areas of scientific instrumentation and optical imaging. Our research philosophy is that if we can design and build novel instruments then we can enable new scientific measurements to be made that have not been possible before.

In this way, we have undertaken new research in fields as diverse as medical imaging, volcanology and additive manufacturing.

Qualifications
  • PhD, University of Southampton 2003
  • MPhys, University of Southampton 1999
Research interests

Optoelectronic and Optomechanical Instrumentation Including:

  • Thermal Imaging Metrology
  • Temperature Science
  • Emissivity and Optical Properties of Materials
  • Applications of Thermometry to Manufacturing
  • Aerosol Printed Electronics
  • Liquid Crystals
Publications

Journal articles

  • Zhang J, Farr NTH, Nohl J, Lai Y, Abrams KJ, Black K, Willmott J, Rodenburg C & Mihaylova L (2025) . IEEE Access, 13, 173976-174000.
  • Karapateas L, Leonidas E, Meng X, Lai Y, Zhang Y, Willmott JR & Hobbs MJ (2025) . Sensors, 25(18).
  • Joseph SD, Davies B, Davies M, Ball EA & Willmott JR (2025) . IEEE Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation, 1-1.
  • Lai Y, Liu X, Davies M, Fisk C, Wang Y, Meng S, Yang H, Yang J, Hobbs M, Zhang Y & Willmott JR (2025) . Fuel, 393, 135057-135057.
  • Zhang Y, Zhao P, Liu X, Xiong W, Lai Y, Davies M, Willmott JR & Yang J (2025) Multi-Feature Engineering and Machine Learning for Equivalence Ratio Prediction in Methane Premixed Flames. Engineering Letters, 33(6), 2089-2099.
  • Meng X, Lai Y, Zhang Z, Willmott J & Zhang Y (2025) . Fuel, 401.
  • Wang B, You Z, Lai Y, Wang Y, Zheng L, Davies M, Willmott JR, Zhang Y & Yang J (2025) . IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 74, 1-11.
  • Elghazy E, Davies MMJ, Farr NTH, Rodenburg C, Willmott JR & Pandhal J (2025) . Journal of CO2 Utilization, 92.
  • Wang B, Lai Y, Liu X, Davies M, Willmott JR, Zhang Y & Yang J (2025) . Combustion Science and Technology, 197(9), 2223-2245.
  • Lai Y, Liu X, Pan M, Davies M, Fisk C, King D, Zhang Y & Willmott J (2024) . Fuel, 378, 132901-132901.
  • Karapateas L, Lai Y, Meng X, Zhang Y, Willmott JR & Hobbs MJ (2024) . Sensors, 24(23).
  • Stuart MB, Davies M, Fisk C, Allen E, Sole AJ, Ing R, Hobbs MJ & Willmott JR (2024) . Science of The Total Environment, 951.
  • Farrimond DG, Woolford S, Barr AD, Lodge T, Tyas A, Waddoups R, Clarke SD, Rigby SE, Hobbs MJ, Willmott JR , Whittaker M et al (2024) . Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 480(2294).
  • Lai Y, Liu X, Davies M, Fisk C, Holliday M, King D, Zhang Y & Willmott J (2024) . Fuel, 373, 132397-132397.
  • Farr N, Davies M, Nohl J, Abrams KJ, Schäfer J, Lai Y, Gerling T, Stehling N, Mehta D, Zhang J , Mihaylova L et al (2024) . Advanced Science, 11(10).
  • Liu X, Lai Y, Fisk C, Willmott J, Zhou H & Zhang Y (2024) . Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, 150.
  • Leonidas E, Hobbs MJ, Ayvar-Soberanis S, Laalej H, Fisk C, Fitzpatrick S & Willmott JR (2023) . Sensors, 23(23).
  • Lai Y, Liu X, Li Y, Leonidas E, Fisk C, Yang J, Zhang Y & Willmott J (2023) . Construction and Building Materials, 407.
  • Lai Y, Liu X, Fisk C, Davies M, Wang Y, Yang J, du Plessis C, Cotton L, Zhang Y & Willmott J (2023) . Fire Safety Journal, 140.
  • Holliday M, Lai Y, Hobbs M, Boone N, Al-Haji T, Scott I & Willmott J (2023) . Ironmaking & Steelmaking, 50(8), 1104-1111.
  • Yang H, Lai Y, Liu X, Davies M, Willmott JR, Zhang Y & Yang J (2023) . IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 72, 1-11.
  • Childs C, Nwaizu H, Bullivant E, Willmott J, Davies M, Ousey K, Soltani H & Jacques R (2023) . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(6).
  • Lee HJ, Ali Gamel MM, Ker PJ, Jamaludin MZ, Wong YH, Yap KS, Willmott JR, Hobbs MJ, David JPR & Tan CH (2023) . Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing, 153, 107135-107135.
  • Davies M, Hobbs MJ, Nohl J, Davies B, Rodenburg C & Willmott JR (2022) . Scientific Reports, 12(1).
  • Hobbs MJ, Barr A, Woolford S, Farrimond D, Clarke SD, Tyas A & Willmott JR (2022) . Sensors, 22(16).
  • Stuart M, Davies M, Hobbs M, McGonigle A & Willmott J (2022) . Remote Sensing, 14(16).
  • Toolan DTW, Weir MP, Dowland S, Winkel JF, Willmott JR, Zhang Z, Gray V, Xiao J, Petty AJ, Anthony JE , Greenham NC et al (2022) . Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 10(31), 11192-11198.
  • Leonidas E, Ayvar-Soberanis S, Laalej H, Fitzpatrick S & Willmott JR (2022) . Sensors, 22(13).
  • Stuart M, Davies M, Hobbs M, Pering T, McGonigle A & Willmott J (2022) . Sensors, 22(12).
  • Davies M, Stuart MB, Hobbs MJ, McGonigle AJS & Willmott JR (2022) . Remote Sensing, 14(5).
  • Lai Y, Wang X, Rockett TBO, Willmott JR & Zhang Y (2022) . Fire Safety Journal, 127.
  • Ahmed FF, Clark SJ, Alex Leung CL, Stanger L, Willmott J, Marussi S, Honkimaki V, Haynes N, Zurob HS, Lee PD & Phillion AB (2021) . Materials & Design, 210.
  • Rockett TBO, Boone NA, Richards RD & Willmott JR (2021) . Sensors, 21(18).
  • Stuart MB, McGonigle AJS, Davies M, Hobbs MJ, Boone NA, Stanger LR, Zhu C, Pering TD & Willmott JR (2021) . Journal of Imaging, 7(8).
  • Stanger L, Rockett T, Lyle A, Davies M, Anderson M, Todd I, Basoalto H & Willmott JR (2021) . Sensors, 21(14).
  • Chechik L, Boone NA, Stanger LR, Honniball P, Freeman F, Baxter G, Willmott JR & Todd I (2021) . Additive Manufacturing, 38.
  • Boone N, Davies M, Willmott JR, Marin-Reyes H & French R (2020) . Sensors, 20(23).
  • Lai Y, Wang X, Rockett TBO, Willmott JR, Zhou H & Zhang Y (2020) . Fire Safety Journal, 118.
  • Childs C, Elliott J, Khatab K, Hampshaw S, Fowler-Davis S, Willmott JR & Ali A (2020) . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(18).
  • Toolan DTW, Weir MP, Kilbride RC, Willmott JR, King SM, Xiao J, Greenham NC, Friend RH, Rao A, Jones RAL & Ryan AJ (2020) . Soft Matter, 16(34), 7970-7981.
  • Heeley A, Hobbs MJ & Willmott J (2020) . Applied Sciences, 10(14).
  • Zhu C, Hobbs MJ, Masters RC, Rodenburg C & Willmott JR (2020) . IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 69(7), 4210-4221.
  • Stuart MB, Stanger LR, Hobbs MJ, Pering TD, Thio D, McGonigle AJS & Willmott JR (2020) . Sensors, 20(11).
  • Zhu C, Hobbs M & Willmott JR (2020) . Measurement Science and Technology, 31(4).
  • Pering TD, Ilanko T, Wilkes TC, Stanger L, Willmott JR & McGonigle AJS (2020) .
  • Hobbs M & Willmott JR (2019) . Measurement Science and Technology, 31(1).
  • Stuart MB, McGonigle AJS & Willmott JR (2019) . Sensors, 19(14).
  • Wilkes TC, Pering TD, McGonigle AJS, Willmott JR, Bryant R, Smalley AL, Mims FM, Parisi AV & England RA (2019) . Frontiers in Earth Science, 7.
  • Pering TD, Ilanko T, Wilkes TC, England RA, Silcock SR, Stanger LR, Willmott JR, Bryant RG & McGonigle AJS (2019) . Frontiers in Earth Science, 6.
  • Childs C, Wright N, Willmott J, Davies M, Kilner K, Ousey K, Soltani H, Madhuvrata P & Stephenson J (2019) . Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control, 8.
  • Zhu C, Hobbs MJ, Grainger MP & Willmott JR (2018) . Applied Optics, 57(36), 10449-10457.
  • Heeley AD, Hobbs MJ, Laalej H & Willmott J (2018) . Sensors, 18(10).
  • Hobbs M, Zhu C, Grainger M, Tan CH & Willmott J (2018) . Optics Express, 26(19), 24904-24916.
  • Boone NA, Zhu C, Smith C, Todd I & Willmott J (2018) . Additive Manufacturing, 22, 601-605.
  • Stanger LR, Wilkes T, Boone N, McGonigle A & Willmott J (2018) . Sensors, 18(7), 2169-2169.
  • Wilkes TC, Stanger LR, Willmott JR, Pering TD, McGonigle AJS & England RA (2018) . Remote Sensing, 10(3).
  • Hobbs MJ, Grainger MP, Zhu C, Tan CH & Willmott JR (2018) . Optics Express, 26(3), 3188-3198.
  • McGonigle AJS, Wilkes TC, Pering TD, Willmott JR, Cook JM, Mims FM & Parisi AV (2018) . Sensors, 18(1).
  • Wilkes TC, McGonigle AJS, Willmott JR, Pering TD & Cook JM (2017) . Optics Letters, 42(21), 4323-4326.
  • McGonigle AJS, Pering TD, Wilkes TC, Tamburello G, D Aleo R, Bitetto M, Aiuppa A & Willmott JR (2017) . Geosciences, 7(3).
  • Zavala-Arredondo M, Boone N, Willmott J, Childs DTD, Ivanov P, Groom KM & Mumtaz K (2017) . Materials and Design, 117, 305-315.
  • Wilkes TC, McGonigle AJS, Pering TD, Taggart AJ, White BS, Bryant RG & Willmott JR (2016) . Sensors, 16(10).
  • Childs C, Siraj MR, Fair FJ, Selvan AN, Soltani H, Wilmott J & Farrell T (2016) . Journal of Wound Care, 25(9), 499-512.
  • Willmott JR, Lowe D, Broughton M, White BS & Machin G (2016) . Measurement Science and Technology, 27(9), 094002-094002.
  • Lowe D, Broughton M, Machin G & Willmott JR (2015) . Measurement, 76, 129-135.
  • Zhou X, Meng X, Krysa AB, Willmott JR, Ng JS & Tan CH (2015) . IEEE Sensors Journal, 15(10), 5555-5560.
  • Hobbs MJ, Tan CH, Zhou X, David JPR, Willmott JR, Plis E & Krishna S (2015) . IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 64(2), 502-508.
  • Zhou X, Hobbs MJ, White BS, David JPR, Willmott JR & Tan CH (2014) . IEEE Transactions on Electronic Devices, 61(3), 838-843.
  • Willmott JR, Davenport CJ, Newton J & Coles HJ (2005) . Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals, 434(1), 209/[537]-217/[545].
  • Willmott JR, Pivnenko MN, Blatch AE & Coles HJ (2004) . SPIE Proceedings, 5289, 8-8.
  • Coles HJ, Musgrave B, Coles MJ & Willmott J (2001) . Journal of Materials Chemistry, 11(11), 2709-2716.
  • Hutchinson TMF, Davies M, Fisk C, Zied H, Willmott JR & Hobbs MJ () . Materials, 18(20), 4806-4806.
  • David Joseph S, Davies B, Davies M, Ball EA & Willmott JR () Additive Manufacturing on Kapton substrate for rapid prototyping of low-cost mmWave antennas. IEEE Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation.
  • Wang C, Zhao P, Lai Y, Davies M, Willmott JR, Zhang Y & Yang J () . Combustion Science and Technology, 1-20.
  • You Z, Yang J, Lai Y, Wang Y, Zheng L, Yang X, Davies M & Willmott JR () . Combustion Science and Technology, 1-19.
  • Lai Y, Albadi A, Liu X, Davies M, Hobbs M, Willmott J & Zhang Y () . Proceedings of the Combustion Institute.
  • Wilkes T, Pering T, McGonigle A, Tamburello G & Willmott J () . Remote Sensing, 9(1).
  • Hobbs MJ, Tan CH & Willmott JR () . Journal of Instrumentation, 8(03), P03016-P03016.

Conference proceedings

  • Bowe DA, Davies M, Davies B, Willmott J & Henthorn SD (2025) . 2025 19th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP) (pp 1-5), 30 March 2025 - 4 April 2025.
  • Joseph SD, Davies BE, Davies MM, Ball EA & Willmott JR (2025) . 2024 IEEE Microwaves, Antennas, and Propagation Conference (MAPCON). Hyderabad, India, 9 December 2024 - 9 December 2024.
  • Tyas A, Farrimond D, Woolford S, Barr A, Lodge T, Waddoups R, Clarke S, Rigby S, Hobbs M, Willmott J & Whittaker M (2024) Experimental and numerical studies of confined blast from detonation of plasticised high explosives in reactive and non-reactive atmospheres. Proceedings of The 19th International Symposium on Interaction of the Effects of Munitions with Structures (ISIEMS). Bonn, Germany, 9 December 2024 - 9 December 2024.
  • Leonidas E, Hobbs MJ, Ayvar-Soberanis S, Laalej H, Fisk C, Fitzpatrick S & Willmott JR (2024) . Infrared Sensors, Devices, and Applications XIV (pp 37-37), 18 August 2024 - 23 August 2024.
  • Davies M, Hobbs MJ, Nohl J, Davies B, Rodenburg C & Willmott JR (2024) . Liquid Crystals XXVIII (pp 57-57), 18 August 2024 - 23 August 2024.
  • Meyers G, Zhu C, Mayfield M, Tingley DD, Willmott J & Coca D (2019) . Proceedings of the 2nd Workshop on Data Acquisition To Analysis (pp 16-21)
  • Willmott JR, Lowe D, Broughton M, White BS & Machin G (2015) . 17th International Congress of Metrology (pp 15004-15004)
  • Hobbs MJ, Willmott JR, Droegmoeller P, David J & Tan C (2015) . Proceedings IRS² 2015 (pp 929-933), 19 May 2015 - 21 May 2015.
  • Turner SF, Metcalfe SF, Mellor A, Willmott J & Drögmöller P (2012) . SPIE Proceedings, Vol. 8354 (pp 83540Z-83540Z)

Preprints

  • Albadi A, Lai Y, Fisk C, Hobbs M, Davies M, Willmott J & Zhang Y (2024) , Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
  • DAVIES M, HOBBS MJ, NOHL J, DAVIES B, RODENBURG C & WILLMOTT JR (2022) , Research Square Platform LLC.
  • Childs C, Elliott J, Khatab K, Hampshaw S, Fowler-Davis S, Willmott JR & Ali A () .
Professional activities and memberships
  • EEE PGR Admissions Tutor
  • Royal Society Industry Fellow

Links

Semiconductor Materials and Devices