Allan Matthews is an internationally-regarded expert in the field of Surface Engineering. His research has been agenda-setting, prolific and pivotal in the subject's development since the 1980s. This research contribution, which spans the spectrum from ab-initio modelling of templated film growth through to the development of large-scale industrial enhanced plasma-based commercial deposition systems, has been highly influential in the industrial take-up and successful adoption of many new coating processes and systems. He is known particularly for his advocacy of plasma-based, environmentally-friendly coating processes and treatment methods, for which he is an acknowledged worldwide leader. These coatings are now used widely in aerospace, automotive, medical and energy applications.

Professor Matthews' ground-breaking research led him to receiving many awards, including the 2011 Gold Medal of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3), the 2018 RF Bunshah Award of the American Vacuum Society (AVS), The Lifetime Achievement Award of the Taiwan Association for Coatings and Thin Films (in 2019), the Leading Scientist Award for his work in Plasma Surface Engineering from the European Society for Thin Films (EFDS) in 2020 and the 2022 Nathaniel Sugarman Award from the Society of Vacuum Coaters (USA).