Peter Norton, Western University
Department of Chemistry Professor Emeritus London, Ontario pnorton@uwo.ca
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Bio/Research
Prof. Norton is an NSERC Senior Industrial Research Professor and co-Director of Interface Science Western, an interdisciplinary, interdepartmental group (Chemistry & Physics) of about 25 people, including graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, research associates and technical staff.
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Bio/Research
Prof. Norton is an NSERC Senior Industrial Research Professor and co-Director of Interface Science Western, an interdisciplinary, interdepartmental group (Chemistry & Physics) of about 25 people, including graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, research associates and technical staff.
Areas of research include:
Corrosion and hydrogen ingress in nuclear materials and steels. Research involves using a very wide range of surface characterization techniques to understand how hydrogen gains access to nuclear materials, how it diffuses, how it segregates and the consequences of segregation, and how to remove it non-destructively. Fundamental studies of oxidation, including the linkage between kinetics, grain boundaries, stresses and nanomechanical properties.
Oxidation of Aluminum Alloys. The oxidation of a new class of Al alloys is being studied by a wide range of in-situ surface science methods to establish the atomic mechanisms of oxidation and the microstructure of the oxide films. This work is directly supported by Alcan International Ltd.
Nanoscale studies with proximal probes, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and interfacial force microscopy (IFM). STM projects include studies of the atomic basis of chemical vapour deposition of metals and the molecular basis of in-situ formation of conformal low dielectric constant polymer films on semiconductor surfaces. The projects also include the development of methods to produce nanostructures on semiconductor surfaces.
Interfacial force microscopy (IFM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). We are the only group in Canada equipped with the IFM which can quantitatively measure and image interfacial forces. Projects could include antiwear films, hard coatings, polymers, biological molecules, surface derivatization, direct determination of bond strengths etc. A new emphasis is being developed on the coupling of mechanical forces and cellular machinery that will involve cell biology, molecular biology, development of near-field scanning methods. The goal is to understand the transduction of mechanical forces into chemical and biological processes, and vice-versa. Graduate studentship available.
Interfaces in electroluminescent materials. Research includes studying the role of interfaces in determining the properties of electroluminescent materials. In particular the behaviour of the electrode materials in determining the lifetime of devices is of primary interest. Graduate studentship available. Good opportunity for NSERC Industrial Scholarship
Fundamental studies of the interaction of water with surfaces. Studies of the dynamics of water dissociation in collaboration with Dr. J. Hepburn, U. Waterloo. The internal energy states of hydrogen produced by water dissociation is being probed by modern laser-based methods.
Time-resolved IR spectroscopy is being developed as a broad band probe of surface and interface processes. UHV surface science, electrochemical processes and polymer interfaces are being explored at microsecond time resolution.
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Areas of research include:
Corrosion and hydrogen ingress in nuclear materials and steels. Research involves using a very wide range of surface characterization techniques to understand how hydrogen gains access to nuclear materials, how it diffuses, how it segregates and the consequences of segregation, and how to remove it non-destructively. Fundamental studies of oxidation, including the linkage between kinetics, grain boundaries, stresses and nanomechanical properties.
Oxidation of Aluminum Alloys. The oxidation of a new class of Al alloys is being studied by a wide range of in-situ surface science methods to establish the atomic mechanisms of oxidation and the microstructure of the oxide films. This work is directly supported by Alcan International Ltd.
Nanoscale studies with proximal probes, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and interfacial force microscopy (IFM). STM projects include studies of the atomic basis of chemical vapour deposition of metals and the molecular basis of in-situ formation of conformal low dielectric constant polymer films on semiconductor surfaces. The projects also include the development of methods to produce nanostructures on semiconductor surfaces.
Interfacial force microscopy (IFM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). We are the only group in Canada equipped with the IFM which can quantitatively measure and image interfacial forces. Projects could include antiwear films, hard coatings, polymers, biological molecules, surface derivatization, direct determination of bond strengths etc. A new emphasis is being developed on the coupling of mechanical forces and cellular machinery that will involve cell biology, molecular biology, development of near-field scanning methods. The goal is to understand the transduction of mechanical forces into chemical and biological processes, and vice-versa. Graduate studentship available.
Interfaces in electroluminescent materials. Research includes studying the role of interfaces in determining the properties of electroluminescent materials. In particular the behaviour of the electrode materials in determining the lifetime of devices is of primary interest. Graduate studentship available. Good opportunity for NSERC Industrial Scholarship
Fundamental studies of the interaction of water with surfaces. Studies of the dynamics of water dissociation in collaboration with Dr. J. Hepburn, U. Waterloo. The internal energy states of hydrogen produced by water dissociation is being probed by modern laser-based methods.
Time-resolved IR spectroscopy is being developed as a broad band probe of surface and interface processes. UHV surface science, electrochemical processes and polymer interfaces are being explored at microsecond time resolution.
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