About

Clive Clayton is a leading Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering at Stony Brook University. His laboratory focuses on utilizing surface science tools to study industrially relevant surfaces and interfaces. He has developed a suite of surface spectrometers and an electrochemical analysis lab to support this research. Clayton is a Fellow of the Electrochemical Society and has extensively studied the formation and nature of nanoscale protective films on highly corrosion-resistant crystalline and amorphous alloys. His work involves surface modification techniques such as high and low energy ion implantation and ultra-fast laser ablation. His research includes developing protective conversion coatings on depleted uranium, understanding the fundamental mechanisms behind corrosion resistance in chromate conversion coatings on aluminum alloys, and investigating the environmental degradation of paints and polymer composite materials. He also studies the role of microbes in material degradation. Clayton is currently the Director of the Institute for Sustainable Development, partnering with corporate entities to develop sustainable composite materials for the building industry in the developing world. Additionally, he is the founder and Director of the Strategic Partnership for Industrial Resurgence (SPIR) program, which has developed over 1700 high-tech projects with more than 230 companies since 1994. His career includes roles as department chair and associate dean of engineering, reflecting his leadership in academia and industry collaboration.

Research topics

• Biology
• Genetics
• Chemistry

Selected publications

• MYB93 regulates responses to environmental sulphur in Arabidopsis and tomato.

  Authorea (Authorea) · 2024

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Genetics

  Sulphur (S) is an important nutrient that has wide-ranging effects on plant health and metabolism. Several classes of transcription factor respond to S deprivation, including R2R3-MYBs. In Arabidopsis, the AtMYB93 transcription factor-encoding gene is upregulated by S deprivation. AtMYB93 has a non-redundant function in lateral root development and redundant functions in suberin biosynthesis alongside related MYB transcription factors, but AtMYB93’s role in S signalling, and how it relates to lateral root development, is unknown. We show that the transcriptome of Atmyb93 mutant roots implicates AtMYB93 in responses to S, including changes in S transport and metabolism, and flavonoid- and carbohydrate metabolism. Elemental analysis demonstrates that the Atmyb93 mutant has elevated shoot S levels while tomato SlMYB93-overexpressing plants have reduced shoot S. We uncover a stimulatory effect of S deprivation on adventitious root development. However, Atmyb93 mutants do not show significant changes in sensitivity to S with respect to lateral- or adventitious root development, most likely due to some functional redundancy. We show that the increase in AtMYB93 expression upon S deprivation is not due to global effects of S on its regulator SCARECROW. Furthermore, we show that AtMYB93 interacts with AtMPK3 and that the Atmpk3 mutant has elevated lateral root density. Taken together, our data suggest that AtMYB93 has a role in mediating root responses to S in alongside other root transcription factors.

  DOI

• Hydrogen Blending in Gas Pipeline Networks—A Review

  Energies · 2022 · 246 citations

  Senior author
  • Environmental science
  • Materials science
  • Process engineering

  Replacing fossil fuels with non-carbon fuels is an important step towards reaching the ultimate goal of carbon neutrality. Instead of moving directly from the current natural gas energy systems to pure hydrogen, an incremental blending of hydrogen with natural gas could provide a seamless transition and minimize disruptions in power and heating source distribution to the public. Academic institutions, industry, and governments globally, are supporting research, development and deployment of hydrogen blending projects such as HyDeploy, GRHYD, THyGA, HyBlend, and others which are all seeking to develop efficient pathways to meet the carbon reduction goal in coming decades. There is an understanding that successful commercialization of hydrogen blending requires both scientific advances and favorable techno-economic analysis. Ongoing studies are focused on understanding how the properties of methane-hydrogen mixtures such as density, viscosity, phase interactions, and energy densities impact large-scale transportation via pipeline networks and end-use applications such as in modified engines, oven burners, boilers, stoves, and fuel cells. The advantages of hydrogen as a non-carbon energy carrier need to be balanced with safety concerns of blended gas during transport, such as overpressure and leakage in pipelines. While studies on the short-term hydrogen embrittlement effect have shown essentially no degradation in the metal tensile strength of pipelines, the long-term hydrogen embrittlement effect on pipelines is still the focus of research in other studies. Furthermore, pressure reduction is one of the drawbacks that hydrogen blending brings to the cost dynamics of blended gas transport. Hence, techno-economic models are also being developed to understand the energy transportation efficiency and to estimate the true cost of delivery of hydrogen blended natural gas as we move to decarbonize our energy systems. This review captures key large-scale efforts around the world that are designed to increase the confidence for a global transition to methane-hydrogen gas blends as a precursor to the adoption of a hydrogen economy by 2050.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The Intersection of Design, Manufacturing, and Surface Engineering

  Elsevier eBooks · 2018-01-01 · 7 citations

  book-chapterSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• List of Contributors

  Elsevier eBooks · 2018-01-01

  book-chapter
  PublisherDOI

• Zerovalent Copper Intercalated Birnessite as a Cathode for Lithium Ion Batteries: Extending Cycle Life

  Journal of The Electrochemical Society · 2017-01-01 · 14 citations

  articleOpen access

  Birnessite type layered manganese dioxides (δ-MnO₂) have attracted considerable attention in recent years as 2D intercalation cathodes for rechargeable Li⁺, Na⁺, and Mg²⁺ batteries due to fast ion diffusion through their negatively charged δ-MnO₂ sheets separated by interlayer cations and a stable Mn^3+/4+ redox couple. Here we report the preparation and electrochemistry of zero and divalent copper co-intercalated birnessite type manganese dioxide (Cu⁰_0.03Cu²⁺_0.21Na^0.12MnO₂·0.9H₂O). The copper intercalated birnessite materials were fully characterized utilizing powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The mixed valent nature of intercalated Cu⁰ and Cu²⁺ was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). Electrochemical evaluation results show that zero valent copper intercalated birnessite exhibits higher discharge capability, improved cyclability, and lower impedance compared to the Cu²⁺ only intercalated (Cu_0.26MnO₂·1.0H₂O) and Cu free Na birnessite (Na_0.40MnO₂·1.0H₂O) materials. Remarkably, zero valent copper birnessite shows almost no fade after 10 cycles at 0.1 mV/s. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results suggest that charge transfer resistivity of Cu⁰ modified samples was much lower than that of Cu²⁺ and Cu free birnessite, indicating that the presence of a small amount of Cu⁰ improves the conductivity of birnessite and results in better electrochemical cyclability, rate capability, and lower impedance.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Delineating crosslink density gradients via in-situ solvation of immiscibly blended polyurethane thermosets

  Colloid & Polymer Science · 2017-08-26 · 4 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Characterization of immiscibly blended polyurethane coatings part 1: selective staining for enhanced micro-Raman spectroscopy

  Journal of Coatings Technology and Research · 2016-10-13 · 5 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Novel Methods of Producing Low-Reflectance Coatings Utilizing Synergistic Effects of Polymer Phase Separation

  ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces · 2016-09-14 · 23 citations

  article

  Novel methods were developed to generate and characterize surface structures formed from polymer segregation within a powder coating system. A blend of unique acrylic polyol resins and low concentrations of matting agent afforded a durable coating exhibiting consistent low reflectance. An enhanced synergistic effect was observed from the phase separation and domain formation of the two polymeric resins with varying pendent hydroxyl group functionality and the incorporated matting agents. Together the domains and incorporated matting agents produced a significantly lower reflectance coating than the matting agent in combination with either polymeric resin alone. The rigorous thermal, optical, and spectroscopic analysis of the pigmented coating and control coatings culminated in the complete characterization of polymeric phases within the resulting coatings. Raman analysis of the control coatings via a distinct spectroscopic handle allowed for positive identification of the segregated polymer resins within the coating structure. Domains observed by optical microscopy within the control coating structure were chemically identified via Raman analysis as the high-hydroxyl content resin. Subsequent Raman mapping of the peak intensity over an entire cross-section provided consistent evidence for positive identification of the polymeric composition within the domain.

  PublisherDOI

• Physicochemical investigation of chemical paint removers. II: Role and mechanism of phenol in the removal of polyurethane coatings

  Progress in Organic Coatings · 2015-07-23 · 18 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Light Thermal Damage in Polymer Composite Systems: Analysis of Bulk and Surface Properties through Vibrational and X-Ray Spectroscopy

  ECS Transactions · 2014-04-24

  article1st authorCorresponding

  Polymer composite materials have shown significant advances in the replacement of metals as structural materials in military applications. While these materials are lighter and stronger, they are also substantially more susceptible to degradation from conditions where metals are unperturbed. In addition to ultraviolet radiation, exposure to service temperatures above T g but below the point of burning can lead to premature material failure. In this work, we explore the effects of this “light” thermal damage on the bulk properties of a carbon fiber / vinyl ester composite, and examine the changes in surface oxidation and other modes of decomposition, in the hopes of better understanding the bulk changes. Laser-induced fluorescence has been used to detect thermal exposure, and has been related to changes in mechanical properties of the composite. The surfaces of both the composite and neat resin have been studied with Raman, FTIR, and X-ray spectroscopic methods in order to detect surface and near-surface changes in chemistry. Common trends in changes of properties with increasing exposure will be discussed.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Gary P. Halada

  Stony Brook University

  50 shared

• Yi-Sheng Lu

  29 shared

• R.B. Diegle

  29 shared

• H. Herman

  28 shared

• Martin A. Helfand

  JDSU (United States)

  23 shared

• G. Chen

  Columbia University

  22 shared

• N.R. Sorensen

  20 shared

• S. V. Kagwade

  18 shared

Labs

• Clive Clayton LaboratoryPI

Awards & honors

• SERDP Project-of-the-Year Award for Weapons Systems and Plat…
• Fellow, Electrochemical Society, 2004
• Elected member Bohmische Physical Society 1983
• Scientific Research Council Fellowship (UK) 1973-1976
• Monbusho International Scientific Research Program Fellowshi…