Chemistry and Biochemistry

Simon Garrett

Photo of Dr. Simon Garrett
Professor, Chair
Email:
Phone:
(818) 677-3366
Office location:
Eucalyptus Hall 2002
Website:

Biography

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 100 Principles of Chemistry
CHEM 101 General Chemistry I
CHEM 102 General Chemistry II
CHEM 422/L Analytical Chemistry II and laboratory
CHEM 522 Advanced Analytical Chemistry

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 acetonitrile, hydrogen sulfide, formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide.

A second area of research involves the characterization of the surfaces and properties of metallic glasses. Metallic glasses are non-crystalline metal alloys with some unique properties. For example, they are harder, stronger, stiffer and more corrosion resistant than many conventional alloys in use. They have important potential applications in aerospace and medical fields. We are studying their corrosion behavior and also interested in measuring their properties in the supercooled liquid region, the temperature range between the glass transition temperature and melting point.

Students in Dr. Garrett’s research group use a wide range of conventional and specialized analytical instrumentation to answers questions about their project as the need arises. Such specialized techniques include mass spectrometry (temperature programmed desorption) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Microscopy, both scanning probe and electron, are used to examine the surfaces of materials. Successful students in this group develop interdisciplinary problem-solving skills in analytical/physical chemistry and materials science, making them desirable to both industry and academia.

REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS

  1. “Nitrogen - Doped Graphene on Copper: Edge - Guided Doping Process and Doping - Induced Variation of Local Work Function” Neilson, J.; Chinkezian, H.; Phirke, H.; Li, Y.; Chichiri, C.; Cho, J.; Palotás, K.; Gan, L.; Garrett, S.J.; Lau, K.C.; Gao, L. J. Phys. Chem. C 123 (2019) 8802-8812.
  2. “Activating Ru nanoparticles on oxide supports for ring - opening metathesis polymerization” Mantanona, A.J.; Wood, K.; Schrodi, Y.; Garrett, S.J. Dalton Transactions, 47 (2018) 7754 – 7760.
  3. “Controlled Synthesis of Nitrogen - Doped Graphene on Ruthenium from Azafullerene” Fei, X.; Neilson, J.; Li, Y.; Lopez, V.; Garrett, S.J.; Gan, L.; Gao, H.-J.; Gao, L. Nano Letters, 17 (2017) 2887 - 2894.
  4. “Laser assisted detection of metal nanoparticles in liquid He - II” Fernandez, V.; Garcia, A.; Vossoughian, K.; Popov, E.; Garrett, S.; Eloranta, J. Journal of Physical Chemistry A 119 (2015) 10882.
  5. “Characterization of the patina formed on a low tin bronze exposed to aqueous hydrogen sulfide”, Chan, M.; Capek, A.; Brill, D.A.; Garrett, S.J.  Surface and Interface Analysis (2014) 46, 433.
  6. “Corrosion behavior of oxide-​covered Cu47Ti34Zr11Ni8 (Vitreloy 101) in chloride-​containing solutions”, Baca, N.; Conner, R.D.; Garrett, S.J. Materials Science & Engineering B (2014) 184, 105.
  7. "Small scale resistance spot welding of Cu47Ti34Zr11Ni8 (Vitreloy 101) bulk metallic glass," Baca, N.; Ngo, T.-T.; Conner, R. D; Garrett, S. J. Journal of Materials Processing Technology (2013) 213, 2042. 
  8. "Fatigue and corrosion of a Pd-based bulk metallic glass in various environments," Watanabe, L. Y.; Roberts, S. N.; Baca, N.; Weist, A.; Garrett, S. J.; Conner, R. D. Materials Science and Engineering (2013) 33, 4021. 
  9. "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. 
  10. "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. 

M. S. THESES

  • “Reaction of thiourea with silver sulfide tarnish layers on silver surfaces”, Ariga Allehyari (MS Chemistry 2020)
  • "Studies of precursors to biomolecules in astrophysical ices by electron irradiation", Peiman Sobbi (MS Chemistry 2019)
  • "The patination of historic bronze by H2S and the effects of thiourea on silver", Michelle Chan (MS Chemistry 2016)
  • "The use of Ru nanoparticles on support structures for the production of composite polymers via olefin metathesis", Alex Mantanona (MS Chemistry 2016)
  • "The development and catalytic testing of TiO2 and TiO2-Fe2O3 nanoparticles using thermal evaporation", Kaveh Vossoughian (MS Chemistry 2016)
  • "Corrosion Resistance of Pd43Cu27Ni10P20 Bulk Metallic Glass", Yehan Zhang (MS Chemistry 2015)
  • "Weldability and corrosion resistance of Cu47Ti34Zr11Ni8 metallic glass", Nick Baca (MS Chemistry 2012)