The whole group attended the ECS Canada Section meeting this year, held at Western University in honour of Prof. Dave Shoesmith's 80th birthday. I'm proud of all our presenters showcasing our work to our community!
I’m beyond thrilled to share that I’ve been selected as this year’s winner of the International Society of Electrochemistry's (ISE) Early Career Prize in Division 1, Analytical Electrochemistry!
This award recognizes my work in analytical electrochemistry for corrosion. It reflects not just my own efforts, but the incredible dedication, creativity, and resilience of my research team. I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished together, and this recognition only fuels our excitement for what’s ahead.
More info here: https://lnkd.in/gNt9AHdF
We are proud of our Gateman Group members, Jacob Bunting and Taras Skotar, for their successful MSc Defenses! We will miss Jacob's helping hand around the lab and Taras's insightful group meeting questions. We wish you all the best in your futures!
We are proud of our Gateman Group members, Adam Robertson, Natalia Ricci, and Ghazal Shafiee, for graduating from their BScs and MSc! As Adam and Ghazal are off to pursue their academic careers elsewhere, we sent them off with their Gateman Research Group Jerseys to remind them that they will always be a part of the team!
I’m incredibly honoured to be named the recipient of Western University's Postdoctoral Supervisor of the Year Award!
This award recognizes a faculty member who goes above and beyond to support postdoctoral scholars—offering mentorship, guidance, and a commitment to creating a meaningful, productive experience for their career development.
Thank you to my wonderful postdocs and to Western for this recognition. It’s a privilege to work with such talented and thoughtful people.
We are excited to share our latest work "Influence of Electrolyte Concentration on the Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy Feedback Behavior of Copper" published in the ACS Journal of Physical Chemistry C!
Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) is a go-to method for probing surface reactivity of corroding metals—but what happens when we tweak something as simple as electrolyte concentration? Turns out, it can dramatically change the story we tell about corrosion.
In this paper, we explored how varying NaCl concentrations influence SECM feedback signals over copper when using hexaammineruthenium(III) chloride as the redox mediator. At high [Cl⁻], the mediator was rapidly depleted, accelerating corrosion and transitioned the feedback signal to negative. At low [Cl⁻], Cu became less reactive and the feedback signal stayed positive longer, enabling reliable SECM imaging. We also used finite element modeling to track how surface electroactivity changes over time—providing deeper insight into how and why these shifts occur.
A big congratulations to all authors, Ali Pilehrood, Dr. Reza Moshrefi, and Dr. Emmanuel Mena-Morcillo. This work was done in collaboration with the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO). Check out the full paper here: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jpcc.5c02065
Our recent article published in ACS Measurement Science Au has made the cover featuring Nishtha's article, "In Situ Quantification of a Wetted Surface Area during Scanning Electrochemical Cell Microscopy Using Retraction Curves"!
The schematic depicts a micropipette dispensing a droplet onto a substrate during scanning electrochemical cell microscopy. As the probe retracts, current response data is captured as a function of probe position, where detachment correlates with droplet size. This method enables efficient estimation of electrode surface area at each measurement point.
Congratulations to the artist, Dr. Reza Moshrefi, on this achievement!
We tackled a fundamental challenge in radiation electrochemistry: how to perform reliable, long-term in-situ measurements using reference electrodes that can withstand harsh environments.
In this study, we examined the stability of silver/silver chloride (Ag/AgCl) quasi-reference electrodes (QREs) under continuous gamma radiation. QREs offer practical advantages over traditional reference electrodes—like enabling low-volume experiments and avoiding frit obstructions—but their use under radiation has not been rigorously validated until now. Using both ex-situ open circuit potential and in-situ internal reference probes, we demonstrated that these QREs remain stable and reliable for at least 33 days. We also successfully applied them to monitor the corrosion of copper under irradiation, a process highly relevant to nuclear waste containment strategies. This work lays the foundation for validating other reference electrodes in extreme conditions and confirms the robustness of Ag/AgCl QREs for small-scale radioelectrochemical experiments. Stayed tuned for our group's subsequent research on utilizing this tool for more in-situ radioelectrochemical measurements!
A big congratulations to all authors, Anqi Shi, Dr. Emmanuel Mena-Morcillo, Taras Skotar, and Dr. Reza Moshrefi This work was done in collaboration with the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO). Check out the full paper here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S138824812500058X#f0020
A huge congratulations to our fourth year undergraduate students, Adam and Natalia, for completing their projects! Natalia investigated localized corrosion of Al-Si alloys using SECCM, and Adam developed a coating method to tailor iron's corrosion rate for biomedical implants (co-supervised by Prof. Joe Gilroy). Both presented their work with confidence at the 53rd Southern Ontario Undergraduate Student Chemistry Conference (SOUSCC) in Guelph, and during CHEM4491 thesis day. Special shout out to Adam for taking home the Analytical Chemistry Division Award at SOUSCC! It was a pleasure working with them both!
We have been on a quest to find an ideal electroactive species to use as a redox mediator for feedback mode of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), and we think we have found one! We are excited to share our latest work using methyl viologen as a redox mediator for localized electrochemical imaging of copper under deaerated conditions. We confirmed our suspicions that the redox mediator's charge and redox potential are important parameters to consider when making a choice for studying any particular metal using SECM.
This work is published as a part of the special issue for Advances in Electroanalytical Chemistry in North America. Big congratulations to Dr. Emmanuel Mena-Morcillo and Dr. Reza Moshrefi for their excellent team (dream) work. Check out the full paper here: https://analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/elan.12016?af=R
Dr. Gateman has been named one of the Rising Stars in Measurement Science, 2024! She is highlighted in the special issue showcasing the early career researchers breaking new ground in analytical chemistry. Dr. Gateman is acknowledged for her pioneering work in electrochemical tools to quantify corrosion and radiation effects, advancing materials science for nuclear waste management and sustainable technologies. Check out the editorial celebrating all Rising Stars here: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acsmeasuresciau.5c00010?ref=vi_2024-rising-stars.
Parker, Ali, and Ghazal represented the Group at the Annual University Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering (UNENE) workshop.
We are thrilled to share our work published in Electrochimica Acta. We demonstrated that the surface roughness matters when considering atmospheric corrosion of copper. Samples were aged in air for 30 days to form a carbonaceous/ oxide film, which dictated the wetting and corrosion properties of the Cu surfaces over time.
A huge congratulations to all authors, especially (newly minted) MSc Ghazal Shafiee, Postdoc Dr. Emmanuel Mena-Morcillo, and undergraduate student (now at Dalhousie for her MSc) Mia Tripp. This work was done in collaboration with the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO). Check out the full paper here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013468624016803
A milestone for our team! I'm thrilled to celebrate Ghazal, who has officially become the first Master of Science graduate from the Gateman Group! Ghazal was among the first students in the team, starting with me in 2022, and her dedication to learning, research, and analytical chemistry has truly set the standard. She did a great job presenting her research and preparing a well-written thesis. Wishing you all the best in your future endeavors, Ghazal—congratulations on this amazing achievement!
We welcome five new members to our team this Fall:
Deepthi Geevarghese- PhD student studying steels using SECCM.
Parker Kiriakakos- MSc student studying localized corrosion of SMR related metals.
Marybeth Ugoh- PhD student studying effect of graphite dust on nuclear related metals.
Gurjap Bhullar- MSc Student studying effect of radionuclides on steel corrosion.
Natalia Ricci- BSc thesis student studying localized corrosion of Al alloys using SECCM.
For more information, check out their bios under the "people" tab.
Our team took a fruitful break from the lab for some core bonding at our annual apple-picking trip! Talk about an a-peel-ing day!
We are excited to share our latest publication, which is a part of the special issue for Rising Stars in Measurement Science 2024. In this work, we provide a new method to estimate the wetted surface area of the working electrode during scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM). By using retraction curves, this information can be accurately and quickly obtained in situ, rather than using time consuming ex situ microscopy methods at each region of pipette landing.
A huge congratulations to all authors, especially PhD student Nishtha Saxena, Postdoc Dr. Emmanuel Mena-Morcillo, and undergraduate student (now at Dalhousie for her MSc) Mia Tripp. This work was done in collaboration with the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO). Check out the full paper here: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsmeasuresciau.4c00042
The group attended the conference marathon of the International Symposium of Electrochemistry and Surface Science (ISESS) in Guelph, Canada, followed by the International Society of Electrochemistry 75th Annual Meeting in Montreal, Canada. We presented a total of ten talks and three posters, sharing our work on scanning electrochemical probe microscopy, radioelectrochemistry, biomedical device corrosion rates estimates, and surface preparation considerations for corrosion studies. A huge congratulations to Dr. Reza Moshrefi for taking him an oral presentation prize at the ISESS!
Our recent perspective paper on developing new non-hormonal IUDs reaches the public through recent news article in CTV News London and Western News, as well as on the air during a live CBC radio interview!
Check them out!
https://london.ctvnews.ca/western-researchers-set-their-eyes-on-innovating-contraceptive-technology-1.6953101
We are thrilled to share our perspective article that addresses the need to revolutionize women's health by developing new materials for non-hormonal intrauterine devices (IUD). The copper IUD is the only long-term, reversible, and non-hormonal option commercially available. The mechanism of contraceptive action comes from the corrosion of the Cu coil that is wrapped around the device's plastic body. Yet, Cu ions also induce negative side effects for users. We discuss potential alternative materials and the sustainability and socioeconomic impact of a new device.
Congratulations to the entire team, including MSc student, Jacob Bunting. This work stems from an interdisciplinary collaboration with Profs. Joe Gilroy, Dean H. Betts, Kate Choi, Basim Abu Rafea, Lori Chambers, and Kirsten Oinonen who are working as a team to develop such new IUD materials.
To read more: https://www.nature.com/articles/s44294-024-00026-y
This work was financially supported by Western's Interdisciplinary Development Initiatives.
The team attended the 5th annual NWMO academic tour in Oakville. This year, we learned about safety cases, fuel cladding, transportation strategy, bentonite, pressure testing, and the encapsulation process. It was also a privilege to hear from the community representatives in the two potential repository regions, Ignace and South Bruce, about their community and youth engagement. The group finished up the day by presenting seven posters on our research. Thank you NWMO for hosting us!
The Gateman research group was featured in the Globe and Mail, showcasing our work on understanding material degradation for application in the nuclear sector.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/adv/article-fuelling-nuclear-safety/
To learn more about nuclear research at Western, check out our promotion video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPkY7D6UM9o&t=6s
Group outing, striking up bonds on and off the lanes. Chemistry's right up our alley!
The Gateman group is celebrating our first research article published in ACS Analytical Chemistry! We answered a long outstanding question in the SECM corrosion science literature about the effect of redox mediator choice on the macro and microscale corrosion properties of both active and passive metals. Turns out that the experimental SECM feedback response is mediator-dependent, but the kinetics remain the same once extracted using a finite element model to simulate the dynamics of the corrosion reactions occurring both at the microelectrode and substrate.
Congratulations to the student/PDF authors Dr. Emmanuel Mena-Morcillo, Ali Pilehrood, Dr. Reza Moshrefi, and Ghazal Shafiee! This work was done in collaboration with the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO). Check out the full paper here: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.analchem.4c00683#
Each year, the ACS Chemical and Engineering News Journal (C&EN) names twelve upcoming researchers that are taking on global chemistry challenges. Dr. Gateman is humbled to be named among the twelve excellent researchers in this year's class for 2024. She is the recipient of the Talented Twelve Award for the Material's division, tackling corrosion by developing analytical electrochemical tools.
You can read Samantha's profile and article here: https://cen.acs.org/materials/Samantha-M-Gateman/102/i15
To read the full article: https://cen.acs.org/people/profiles/CENs-Talented-12/102/i15
Image created by the talented Dr. Reza Moshrefi.
Dr. Gateman co-organized and presented at the second online meeting that showcased Canada's Rising Stars in Electrochemical Systems. This symposium brings together Canada’s emerging electrochemistry researchers in academia, industry and government for two days of vibrant discussions and valuable learning. Dr. Gateman's talk was entitled: "Understanding corrosion using multiscale radioelectrochemistry" that outlined exciting research happening in the group in collaboration with the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO). More info about the symposium can be found on the event's website. Please reach out to Dr. Gateman if you're an early career electrochemistry researcher interested in participating and/or co-organizing in the 3rd meeting!
Congratulations to Julia for taking home the prize of best presentation at the 52nd Southern Ontario Undergraduate Student Chemistry Conference for your hard work on the development of scanning ion conductance microscopy for studying conductive materials. You did a great job showcasing your undergraduate thesis work!
With Canada's investments in implementing small modular reactors (SMRs), questions arise about how the spent nuclear fuel from these new technologies will be safely stored long-term. Prof. Gateman is tackling this question head on with a newly funded project in collaboration with Natural Resources Canada, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization, and others. Read more about it in the Western News article: https://news.westernu.ca/2024/02/small-modular-reactors/
We are thrilled to share that Ghazal Shafiee has won a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)! The scholarship is awarded to female students studying towards a Master's degree in nuclear related subjects and aims to inspire and support young women to pursue a career in the nuclear field.
Way to go, Ghazal! Very well deserved!
The team having a very fruitful experience at the apple orchard! Couldn’t have picked a better bunch!
We have grown! The Gateman group is thrilled to welcome our new team members:
Dr. Reza Moshrefi- PDF in radiation induced atmospheric corrosion
Jacob Bunting- MSc student developing and characterizing biocompatible polymer coatings on Fe
Nishtha Saxena- PhD student studying Cu corrosion using SECCM
Anqi Shi- MSc student investigating stability of reference electrodes under gamma radiation
Taras Skotar- MSc student studying radiation induced corrosion of Cu coatings in saline environments
Mia Tripp- BSc thesis student developing biocompatible polymer coatings on Zn
Julia Petryschuk- BSc thesis student developing SICM for quantifying passivity on corroding systems
Ian Lee- 4th year student investigating droplet corrosion studies
For more information, check out their bios under the "people" tab.
Ali, Ghazal, and Samantha attended the 5th Nuclear Waste Management, Decommissioning, and Environmental Restoration Conference in Niagara Falls. Both Ghazal and Ali did a great job presenting their graduate research on the impact of air-formed surface films on copper corrosion, and towards local electrochemical measurements of copper coatings. Congrats to Ali for bringing home a poster prize!
Our group has published an invited review in the special issue "From Spark to Lightning- Young and Future Leaders in Electrochemistry" of Electrochemical Science Advances. This article discusses the use of scanning electrochemical probe microscopy methods to study local passivation characteristics of corroding metals. It is available for everyone to read in the open access journal here: https://doi.org/10.1002/elsa.202300014
Our team is excited to welcome Dr. Emmanuel Mena Morcillo to the Gateman group! Dr. Mena Morcillo obtained his PhD in physical chemistry from the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute in Mexico. He has extensive experience with scanning electrochemical probe microscopy methods from his postdoctoral fellowships working with Prof. Janine Mauzeroll (McGill) and Prof. Aicheng Chen (UGuelph). He is an expert in electrochemical methods, corrosion, biocorrosion, and electrocatalysis. We are all looking forward to working with Dr. Mena Morcillo on the NWMO-related projects! We celebrated his arrival in London with some miniature golf.
The Gateman group took a trip to the Nuclear waste Management Organization's (NWMO) facility in Oakville, ON. We learned about the container fabrication processes, transportation, temporary used fuel storage, corrosion research activities, and bentonite clay. It was the first time we all got to see the containers in person! Ghazal, Mia, Ali, and Adam enjoyed the poster session, interacting with NWMO team members, and learning more about their research programs.
Warm welcome to our incoming undergraduate summer students, Adam Robertson and Mia Tripp. Adam will explore the corrosion rate of metals for biomedical applications, and Mia will work towards understanding the influence of surface preparation on atmospheric corrosion. For more information about their projects and personal interests, check out their bios!
3 years after defending her thesis via zoom, Samantha was able to visit her PhD department in person. She was invited to give a special lecture in the Chemical Seminar Series for winning the Winkler Award- an award given annually to the PhD candidate who, upon graduation, is judged to be of outstanding academic excellence. She received her team hockey jersey, a tradition for graduates from the Mauzeroll group. She will wear it proudly whenever she decides to play hockey!
A team of undergraduate students from Western participated in the annual Southern Ontario Undergraduate Student Chemistry Conference (SOUSCC) held at Trent University this year. Congratulations to our 4491 honours thesis students, Jacob Bunting and Jessie Mcdonald, for presenting their work!
It is a pleasure to welcome our new members to the Gateman group team! Ghazal Shafiee is a new master student who will study air-formed films on copper surfaces, and Ali Pilehrood is a PhD student working understanding potential localized corrosion of copper cold spray coatings using SECM. Jessie Mcdonald is an undergraduate student co-superivsed by Prof. Noel who will study corrosion of Zr alloys in ground water solutions.
It has been a great summer of setting up the lab space and getting settled in the shared facilities with the RAMPS group. Our undergraduate students, Jacob Bunting, Lidia Nemtsov, and Emma Lord, did a great job!