Interfaces Drive Innovation In Materials Science

Professor Mary Ryan is honoured in the Armourers' Hall display for her pioneering work in materials science.

A new display at the historic Armourers' Hall in the City of London is showcasing the research and impact of Professor Mary Ryan CBE FREng FCGI, Vice-Provost of Research and Enterprise at Imperial College London and holder of the Armourers & Brasiers' Chair in Materials Science. The exhibition brings together themes of heritage conservation and nanotechnology to illustrate the wide-ranging applications of materials science across time and discipline. 

On display until summer 2026, the installation features two significant objects: a 3D-printed model of a gold-coated nanoparticle used in cancer diagnostics and therapy, and a partially conserved aluminium fragment from a WWII Dornier 17 aircraft. Each object represents a distinct strand of Professor Ryan's research into the way nanoscale interfaces between materials and their environment shape their performance and longevity: from new materials for energy and healthcare, to protecting our cultural heritage. 

A Partnership in Science 

With a history dating back over seven centuries, the Armourers & Brasiers' Company is one of the City of London's historic livery companies and a long-standing supporter of materials science in the UK. In 2022, to mark its 700th anniversary, the Company established the Armourers & Brasiers' Chair in Materials Science at Imperial College London. Professor Ryan was appointed as the inaugural Chair in recognition of her pioneering work on material surfaces and her leadership in interdisciplinary and translational research. 

Professor Ryan's early research focused on a question in corrosion science that had remained unresolved since the 19th century: the anomalous resistance of iron to corrosion in concentrated nitric acid, known as the "Faraday paradox." During her doctoral studies, she showed that the ultra thin surfaces layers formed on Iron surfaces are  nanocrystalline oxides layer—only a few nanometres thick and unlike any known bulk material. This discovery provided new insight into surface passivation and established a foundation for decades of further research into interfacial phenomena.

Since then, Professor Ryan's research programme has explored how surfaces and interfaces govern material performance in reactive environments, including marine and biological systems. Her group has developed nanostructured materials and interfaces for batteries, fuel cells, environmental remediation and biosensing, as well as conservation treatments for historic artefacts in collaboration with cultural heritage institutions. 

Interdisciplinary Science on Display 

The exhibition was conceived as a visual and conceptual representation of Professor Ryan's research across time. Curated by Lara Breckon (Office of the Vice-Provost at Imperial) working closely with Professor Ryan, the display is framed around the theme of "past, present and future." 

The first object is a 3D-printed model of a nanostructured "nanostar", a gold-coated nanoparticle designed for biomedical sensing and targeted drug delivery. Based on a scientific figure co-authored by Professor Ryan and part of a long-standing collaboration with Professor Fang Xie at Imperial. The initial digital model was created by Mr Samuel Turner, and then further developed and brought to life by Mr Jake Durrant at Imperial's Advanced Hackspace. It translates the nanostar's layered structure—magnetic core, dielectric shell, and plasmonic surface —each with a specific role in the into a tangible representation of nanoscale geometry. 

Its counterpart is a fragment from a WWII Dornier 17 aircraft, recovered from the seabed in 2013. Professor Ryan, working with Dr Amy Cruickshank, co-developed the chemical protocol used to stabilise the aircraft's corroded aluminium. This protocol was later used to treat the entire plane using previously untested methodologies. For the exhibition, Dr Aigerim Omirkhan, a researcher in Ryan's group, re-applied this protocol to one half of a stored sample—offering a compelling side-by-side comparison of treated and untreated metal. A period photograph of the aircraft's recovery, shared by the Royal Air Force Museum, provides further historical context. 

QR codes embedded in the display (a first for exhibitions at the Hall) offer visitors access to Professor Ryan's inaugural lecture and her research papers including the nanostar publication, inviting deeper engagement with the science. 

Looking Ahead  

Professor Ryan reflected on the significance of presenting these distinct areas of research together: 

"Bringing these two strands of my research together in one display has been a unique opportunity. It reflects the breadth of what materials science can offer—from preserving the past to shaping the technologies of tomorrow." 

The display will remain in place until summer 2026. While Armourers & Brasiers' Hall is not generally open to the public, the exhibition will be featured at selected Company events. Digital materials accessed via QR code will continue to provide wider engagement with the research. 

Mike Goulette, Chairman of the Armourers & Brasiers Materials Science Committee said: 

"We are delighted with the exhibit created by Professor Ryan and her colleagues.  Much of our work in support of Materials Science is designed to encourage clear and accurate communication of complex science to a wide range of audiences in a way that shows its impact for society.  In 200 words, 2 objects and 2 QR codes this display conveys compellingly the breadth of Materials Science as a discipline and the significant benefits it delivers".