Greg Swain
Professor Office: 314 Chemistry
Phone: 517-355-9715 229 /
Websites: Research Group - Area
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Electrochemistry and Materials Science
(Research Description PDF - 842 kb)Our research is centered in the discipline of analytical and physical electrochemistry. The current work spans the fields of electroanalytical chemistry, neuroscience, materials for energy storage and conversion, and corrosion science. We are particularly interested in understanding how the physicochemical and electronic properties of carbon electrodes affect the kinetics and mechanisms of heterogeneous electron-transfer reactions. Electrically-conducting diamond is one type of carbon that possesses several outstanding electrode properties.
Neural Control Mechanisms of Arteries and Veins in Hypertension - Electroanalytical methods with diamond microelectrodes are being used in vitro to study sympathetic neuroeffector transmission to arteries and veins. One important neurotransmitter being electrochemically monitored is norepinephrine. We seek to learn more about how these neural control mechanisms become altered in essential hypertension. All of the work is being performed using rat (wild type, DOCA-salt and SERT-deficient) animal models. This research is being conducted collaboratively with Profs. James Galligan and Greg Fink in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and David Kreulen in the Department of Physiology at MSU.
Neurohumoral Signaling Mechanisms in the Gut - Electroanalytical methods with diamond microelectrodes are being employed in vitro to study serotonin (5-HT), melatonin (MEL) and nitric oxide (NO) signaling in the enteric nervous system, and how these signaling pathways contribute to gut motility and visceral sensitivity. All of the work is being performed using guinea pig and rat (wild type and SERT-deficient) animal models. We are particularly interested understanding the postnatal development of these signaling pathways because their dysfunction is likely a cause for debilitating pediatric motility disorders. The research is being conducted collaboratively with Profs. James Galligan and Xiaochun Bian in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at MSU.
Advanced Carbon Materials for Energy Storage and Conversion - We are developing high surface area and conducting diamond powders for use as microstructurally-stable and corrosion-resistant electrocatalyst support materials in PEM fuel cells. Degradation of the electrocatalyst layer, including carbon support corrosion, is a problem that limits PEM fuel cell performance. More durable supports are needed. We are also studying how the physicochemical and electronic properties of various chemically-modified graphitic carbons (e.g., powders and graphene) affect the structure of the electric double layer and the rates of heterogeneous electron-transfer. These materials are being developed for electric double layer capacitors. The energy storage work is being done collaboratively with researchers in the Center for Alternative Energy Storage Research and Technology at MSU.
Optically Transparent Electrodes for Chemical Analysis - Optically transparent diamond electrodes (OTE) are being developed for use in UV/Vis and IR transmission spectroelectrochemical measurements for the purpose of understanding metal-ligand structural changes in redox proteins as a function of oxidation state. At present, cytochrome c, cytochrome c oxidase and NADH:quinone oxidoreductase are systems under study. The research is being conducted collaboratively with Dr. Denis Proshlyakov in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at MSU.
Corrosion Inhibition by Trichrome Coatings - Fundamental studies of the mechanisms by which trichrome (Cr(III)) and non-chrome-containing thin-film coatings passivate and prevent Al alloy (2024, 6061 and 7075) corrosion are being conducted. The research is being performed collaboratively with researchers at the Ohio State University and United Technologies Research Center.
Selected Publications
Park J, Galligan JJ, Fink GD, Swain GM. "Differences in Sympathetic Neuroeffector Transmission to Rat Mesenteric Arteries and Veins as Probed by In Vitro Continuous Amperometry and Video Imaging", J. Physiol. 2007, 584.3, 819-834.Bian X, Patel BA, Dai X, Galligan JJ, Swain GM. "High Mucosal Serotonin Availability in Neonatal Guinea Pig Ileum is Associated with Low Serotonin Transporter Expression", Gastroenterology 2007, 132, 2438-2447.
S. Wang and G. M. Swain, "Spatially Heterogeneous Electrical and Electrochemical Properties of Hydrogen-Terminated Boron-Doped Nanocrystalline Diamond Thin Film Deposited from an Argon-Rich CH4/H2/Ar/B2H6 Source Gas Mixture", J. Phys. Chem. B, 2007, 111, 3986.
Dai Y, Proshlyakov DA, Zak JK, Swain GM. "Optically Transparent Diamond Electrode for Use in IR Transmission Spectroelectrochemical Measurements". Anal. Chem. 2007, 79, 7526-7533.
Kim D-Y, Merzougui B, Swain GM. "Preparation and Characterization of Glassy Carbon Powder Modified with a Thin Layer of Boron-Doped Ultrananocrystalline Diamond (B-UNCD)", Chem. Mater. 2009, 21, 2705-2713.
