Research

For a full list of publications, please see Google Scholar.

Our goal is to lower the risks associated with corrosion by advancing corrosion prediction tools and corrosion protection strategies. Our current interests include materials related to the nuclear sector and metallic biomedical devices. Understanding the corrosion processes of nuclear-related materials is crucial for ensuring the safety and longevity of nuclear infrastructure, such as reactors and waste storage facilities. Additionally, investigating corrosion in metal biomedical devices is essential to enhance their biocompatibility and durability, thereby improving patient outcomes and advancing medical technology. Ultimately, our motivation is to protect people and the environment.

We apply fundamental knowledge and tools to solve industrial corrosion problems and questions. Many research projects involve at least one industrial partner. This is a great opportunity for students to learn about industry while in an academic setting through direct interactions and networking. For more information about partners, please see the Funding and Research Support Partners section below.

Research Projects and Themes

Scanning Electrochemical Probe Microscopy (SEPM) for Localized Corrosion

Localized corrosion starts at finite regions along a metal's surface. Because it is difficult to detect, it is dangerous. SEPM can be used to elucidate localized corrosion initiation sites and mechanisms. We are working on:

Advancing standardization, implementation, and quantification of SEPM in corrosion science, including scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM), and localized electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (LEIS).
Developing and verifying quantitative techniques to extract localized corrosion rates.
Exploring different materials using SEPM to determine local corrosion mechanisms.

Selected papers:

Radiation-Induced Degradation

Metals that make up nuclear infrastructure are under harsh conditions, including high pressures and temperatures, stress, and radiation. Some radiolysis species produced from ionizing gamma radiation are oxidants towards metals and induce corrosion. Using our Cobalt-60 sourced GammaCell, we investigate how gamma radiation influences corrosion of different nuclear related materials used in reactors and waste storage facilities. We are interested in:

Quantifying and monitoring electroactive radiolysis species in-situ using radioelectrochemistry.
Understanding radiation-induced atmospheric corrosion mechanisms.
Measuring long-term aqueous corrosion rates of metals under gamma radiation.

Selected papers:

Advanced Nuclear Fuels

The rapid global deployment of advanced nuclear systems, particularly small modular reactors (SMRs), has intensified interest in TRISO fuel due to its robust, multi-barrier architecture and demonstrated accident tolerance. We are interested in measuring the electrochemical properties of TRISO fuel and its protective coating layers to understand how local composition, microstructure, and radiation exposure influence chemical reactivity and materials degradation. In particular:

Characterizing TRISO fuel kernels and coating layers to identify compositional and microstructural heterogeneities.
Performing microscale electrochemical measurements of individual phases within TRISO fuel kernels using techniques such as scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM) to establish local structure–reactivity relationships.
Conducting radiation-induced degradation of TRISO coating materials to determine how irradiation alters their structure, chemistry, and mechanical properties.
Exploring degradation under repository-relevant environments to understand how compromised TRISO particles may interact with aqueous environments, radiolysis products, and other chemical stressors during long-term storage and disposal.

Selected papers:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022311526004356

Improving Women's Health: New Non-Hormonal IUDs

Copper intrauterine devices (IUDs) are the only long-term non-hormonal contraception option commercially available. Yet, many users experience adverse side effects due to copper corrosion. To alleviate the need for more comfortable options, this interdisciplinary project is aimed at the development of new non-hormonal IUDs. Our research includes:

Synthesizing polymeric coatings to tailor corrosion rate of possible alternative metal candidates.
Developing long-term electrochemical methodologies to the study corrosion behaviour of biomedical devices under in-use conditions.
Testing the newly developed material for their biotoxicity, compatibility, and effectiveness as a contraceptive.
Understanding the societal impact of the developed technology.

Selected papers:

(Left) Schematic of non-hormonal IUD. (Right) SEM image of a Cu-IUD post usage.