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Meet Dr Francisco Martin-Martinez

Science At King’s: Hear from our experts

30 July 2025

Technology & Science

Can nature provide the answers for some of our biggest environmental challenges? Dr Martin-Martinez's research provides fundamental knowledge needed to drive sustainability and reduce waste – from self-healing roads to a special type of charcoal that improves soil health.

Dr Martin-Martinez said: “We use computational chemistry and machine learning to model and simulate more sustainable molecules and materials, inspired by nature. We try to understand nature’s intelligence and implement those natural principles to develop materials with applications in agriculture, self-healing infrastructure, and energy harvesting and storage.

“One area of my work includes designing self-healing asphalt from recycled oils. Another is the development of a special type of charcoal, known as ‘biochar’, to improve soil health by helping with water retention and nutrients absorption. This is multidisciplinary and highly collaborative research, and we work together with experimental and computational groups across the UK, Netherlands, Belgium, and USA.

If we develop self-healing pavements that last longer, or if we improve soils for agriculture using agricultural waste, we will be reducing the need of material resources, decreasing the environmental impact of producing materials, and contributing to relevant areas of our society.– Dr Francisco Martin-Martinez

“At King’s I am enjoying working with people in Chemistry, Engineering, and Physics, and I hope to develop collaborations across the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences. People are the most important factor to achieve innovation, and the people I found at King’s are inspiring, knowledgeable, nice, and supportive.”