[2] Redfern's research spans the atomic-scale and microscopic structure of minerals and their relationship with environmental science and sustainability, ranging from biominerals to materials for clean energy and greenhouse gas reduction.
Additionally, he contributed to the Institut Laue Langevin in France (2010–2013), along with British agencies such as the Natural Environment Research Council (2012–2017), and the UK Government Advisory Committee on Radioactive Waste Disposal (2016–18).
[18] Redfern has contributed to the field of geoscience and materials science by employing experimental and computational methods to investigate the physical and chemical properties of minerals and associated fluids in planetary interiors.
He introduced ruthenium-activated hollow carbon sphere catalysts, demonstrating superior performance in alkaline electrochemical water splitting compared to commercial Pt/C, providing a cost-effective alternative for large-scale hydrogen production.
[22][23] His work also proposed polymer carbon dots (PCDs) as efficient, metal-free room-temperature phosphorescence materials, emphasizing their unique RTP properties and potential for easy synthesis and diverse applications.
[25] In a similar study, he analyzed how high pressure boosts the optical activity of cesium lead halide perovskite nanocrystals, revealing a pressure-induced emission phenomenon due to structural changes.