Contact info

Dept. Chemistry & Biochemistry

18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, California
91330-8262

Phone: (818) 677-3381
Fax: (818) 677-4068
E-mail: chemistry@csun.edu

Office: 2102 Eucalyptus Hall

Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00am-5:00pm

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Simon J. Garrett

Simon Garrett

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
California State University, Northridge
Northridge, California, 91330-8262

telephone: (818) 677-3366
e-mail: simon.garrett@csun.edu
fax: (818) 677-4068

Office: Magnolia Hall 4300



EDUCATION

  • B.Sc. University of Sussex 1986
  • Ph.D. Imperial College of Science and Technology 1991

POSTDOCTORAL APPOINTMENTS

  • University of Toronto 1993-1996
  • Northwestern University 1991-1993

COURSES TAUGHT

  • CHEM 102 General Chemistry II
  • CHEM 422 Analytical Chemistry II

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Analytical / Physical Chemistry

Dr. Garrett’s research interests are in surface chemistry and materials analysis.

Several projects are underway at CSUN. The first involves studying the adsorption and chemistry of small molecules on and in thin films of solid water (ice). The ice films serve as models for ice found in various terrestrial and non-terrestrial environments. In particular, we are interested in the formation of larger molecules from the action of UV light and electrons on smaller molecules. Such reactions are believed to act in and on comets, the icy bodies that orbit our solar system, and may be one mechanism by which the precursors of life were brought to the early Earth. Similar reactions may occur on the surfaces of Mars and some of the moons of Jupiter. Currently, the molecules of interest to us include those found in comets such as formaldehye and hydrogen cyanide.

A second area of research involves the characterization of the surfaces of metallic glasses and their joining by electrical resistance welding. Metallic glasses are non-crystalline metal alloys with some unique properties. For example, they are stronger, stiffer and tougher than many metallic materials in use. They have important potential applications in aerospace and medical fields. We are studying their oxidation and, by the application of electrical current, their joining, examining whether the non-crystalline properties can be preserved through the welding process.

A third area of research is in nanomaterials. In particular, Dr. Garrett is interested in generating a route to oxide nanoparticles supported on solid surfaces. Metal oxides display a wide range of physical and chemical properties including catalytic, photocatalytic, electronic and magnetic properties. All of these properties are expected to show dependence on the size of the metal oxide particle when particle diameters become less than about 100 nm. Demonstration and understanding of this effect is one of the goals sought. Application of these particles to ‘nanomagnets’ or ‘nanocatalysts’ will be explored.



Students in Dr. Garrett’s research group use a wide range of conventional and specialized analytical instrumentation. Such specialized techniques include temperature programmed desorption and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Microscopy is used to examine the nanoparticles. Successful students in this group develop interdisciplinary skills in analytical/physical chemistry and materials science, making them desirable to both industry and academia.



REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS

  1. "Valence and Core-Level Binding Energy Shifts in Orpiment (As2S3), Realgar (As4S4) and Pararealgar (As4S4) Arsenic Sulfides," Oman, J. K.; Bullen, H. A.; Dorko, M. J.; Garrett, S. J. Surface Science (2003) 531, 319.

  2. "The Characterization of a New Pale Blue Corrosion Product Found on Copper Alloy Artifacts," Trentelman, K.; Stodulski, L.; Scott, D.;Back, M.;Stock, S.;Strahan, D.;Drews, A. R.;O’Neill, A.; Chen, A.; Garrett, S. J. Studies in Conservation (2002) 47, 217.

  3. "Epitaxial Growth of CrO2 Thin Films on TiO2(110) Surfaces," Bullen, H. A.; Garrett, S. J. Chemistry of Materials (2002) 14, 243.

  4. "TiO2 Nanoparticle Arrays Prepared Using a Nanosphere Lithography Technique," Bullen, H. A.; Garrett, S. J. Nano Letters (2002) 2, 739.

  5. "Adsorption and Laser-induced Thermal Desorption of 1,3-butadiene on HOPG(0001)," Oman, J. K.; Garrett, S. J. Journal of Physical Chemistry B (2002) 106(7), 10417.

  6. "Journal of Physical Chemistry B," Duan, L.; Garrett, S. J. Journal of Physical Chemistry B (2001) 105, 9812.

  7. "Photochemistry of H2CO on CO-saturated Cu(100)," Bryden, T. R.; Garrett, S. J. Journal of Physical Chemistry B (2001) 105(25), 9280.

M. S. THESES