G. Mike Bancroft Professor B.Sc. (Manitoba), M.Sc. (Manitoba) Ph.D. (Cambridge), Sc.D. (Cambridge) FRSC O.C. D.Sc. (Hon) Western Ontario D.Sc. (Hon) Manitoba D.Cl. (Hon) St. John’s College, Manitoba Office: Chemistry 070 Phone: (519) 661-4117 Fax: (519) 661-3022
|
 |
 |
Synchrotron Radiation Studies, High Resolution Photoelectron Spectroscopy, Geochemical Surface Studies, Tribochemical Studies
|
Awards:
• FRSC
• Bucke Award
• CIC Medal
• Morley Award
• Steacie Fellow
• Guggenheim Fellow
• Meldola Medal
• Alcan Award
• Herzberg Award
• Harrison Prize
• Rutherford Medal
• Montreal Medal
• Officer of the Order of Canada
|
Current Research Programs:
My research is divided into three areas: first, spectroscopic studies (photoelectron, Auger, resonance Auger, photoabsorption) in the UV-soft X-ray region (20 eV-4,000 eV) on inorganic and organometallic molecules, minerals, and thin films using monochromatized synchrotron radiation at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) in Saskatoon; second, tribochemical studies of antiwear films from engine oil additives; and third, photoelectron studies of non-conductor minerals and glasses.
NEXAFS spectra (at the P and S L-edge and K-edge, B and O K-edge, Zn L-edge) have been extremely useful for characterizing the thickness and the chemical state of elements in antiwear films obtained by decomposition of Zn dithiophosphates (ZDDP) and other novel antiwear compounds in engine oil. The mechanism of this decomposition, often with dispersants and detergents (and in commercial engine oils), is being elucidated with the aim of improving the antiwear performance of these films , and in developing new antiwear additives. This work is being performed in collaboration with Chevron Oil Co. in Richmond, California.
The new Kratos XPS in Surface Science Western is being used to obtain high resolution spectra of non-conductors at optimal resolutions. The resolution is now greatly enhanced so that we can quantify the ratio of “bonding” to “non-bonding” oxygens in silicate and germinate glasses using the O 1s spectra, and determine the initial surface dissolution mechanisms of silicate minerals. Fundamental linewidth studies (using high resolution synchrotron radiation at the CLS at very low temperatures) are being undertaken to determine the controlling factors on the magnitude of non-conductor linewidths.
Selected Publications:
R. Puttner, Y.F. Hu, G.M. Bancroft, A. Kivimaki, H. Aksela, and S. Aksela, 2008, Detailed Analysis of the Br 3d-1nlλ (n=6-9) resonant Auger Spectra of HBr, Physical Review A, 77, 032705 (1-8).
V.P. Zakaznova-Iakovleva, H.W. Nesbitt, G.M. Bancroft, and J.S. Tse, 2008, High Resolution Core and Valence Band XPS Spectra of the leaching of Non-conductor olivine and pyroxenes, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 72, 69-86.
G.Pereira, A. Lachenwitzer, Y. Li, M. Kasrai, G.M. Bancroft, P.R. Norton, M. Albrecht, P.U.P.A. Gilbert, T. Regier, Y. Hu, and L. Zuin, 2007, A Chemical and mechanical analysis of tribofilms from fully formulated oils: Films on an Al-Si Alloy (A383) Part 1. Tribology – Materials, Surfaces, and Interfaces, 1, 105-112.
V.P. Zakaznova-Iakovleva, H.W. Nesbitt, G.M. Bancroft, J.S. Tse, 2006, High Resolution Core and Valence Band XPS Spectra of Non-conductor pyroxenes, Surface Science, 600, 3175-3186.
M.A. Nicholls, P.R. Norton, G.M. Bancroft, M. Kasrai, G DeStasio, B.H. Frazer, L.M. Wiese, T.A.Perry, and Y-S. Cheng, 2005, "Spatially Resoved Nano-scale Chemical and Mechanical Characterization of ZDDP Antiwear Films on Aluminum - Siliclon Alloys under Cylinder/ Bore Wear Conditions," Tribology Letters, 18, 259-276.
