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Robert Moore

Professor
  • Director, Macromolecules Innovation Institute
Robert Moore
313F Davidson Hall

Research Interests

Professor Moore's current research interests include: nanoscale characterization of ion-containing polymers; thermo-reversible gel; functionalization of semi-crystalline polymers in the gel state; morphological and physical property modifications of semicrystalline ionomers; control of morphology-transport property relationships in PEM fuel cell systems via tailored processing procedures and controlled molecular/supramolecular architecture; characterization and control of actuation behavior in nanostructured ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) artificial muscles; small-angle x-ray and neutron scattering methods for the characterization of morphology and dynamics in nanostructured materials; and polymer-based nanocomposites for improved chemical and physical properties; twin-screw extrusion of compatibilized polymer blends; reactive extrusion.

  1. Noble, K.F.; Troya, D.; Talley, S.J.; Ilavsky, J.; Moore, R.B. “High-Resolution Comonomer Sequencing of Blocky Brominated Syndiotactic Polystyrene Copolymers Using 13C NMR Spectroscopy and Computer Simulations,” Macromolecules 2020, 53, 9539-9552.
  2. Chen, X.; Spiering, G.A.; Slebodnick, C.; Long, T.E.; Moore, R.B. “Deciphering the 3D Microstructures of a Doubly Charged Homopolymer through a Complementary Correlation of Monomer Crystallography and Polymer Powder X-ray Diffraction,” Macromolecules 2020, 53, 6529-6537.
  3. Ju, L.; Mondschein, R.J.; Vandenbrande, J.A.; Arrington, C.B.; Long, T.E.; Moore, R.B. “Phosphonated Poly(ethylene terephthalate) ionomers as compatibilizers in extruded Poly(ethylene terrephthlate)/Poly)m-xylylene adipamide) blends and oriented films,” Polymer 2020, 205, 122891.
  4. Talley, S.J.; Vivod, S.L.; Nguyen, B.A.; Meador, M.A.B.; Radulescu, A.; Moore, R.B. “Hierarchical Morphology of Poly(ether ether ketone) Aerogels,” ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2019, 11, 31508-31519.
  5. Ju, L.; Dennis, J.M.; Heifferon, K.V.; Long, T.E.; Moore, R.B. “Compatibilization of Polyester/Polyamide Blends with a Phosphonated Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) Ionomer: Comparison of Monovalent and Divalent Pendant Ions,” ACS Appl. Polym. Mater., 2019, 1(5), 1071-1080.
  6. Anderson, L.J.; Moore, R.B. “Sulfonation of blocky brominated PEEK to prepare hydrophilic hydrophobic blocky copolymers for efficient proton conduction,” Solid State Ionics, 2019, 336, 47-56.
  7. Noble, K.F.; Noble, A.M.; Talley, S.J.; Moore, R.B. “Blocky bromination of syndiotactic polystyrene via post-polymerization functionalization in the heterogeneous gel-state,” Polymer Chemistry, 2018, 9, 5095-5106.
  8. Anderson, L.J.; Yuan, X.; Fahs, G.B.; Moore, R.B. “Blocky Ionomers via Sulfonation of Poly(ether ether ketone) in the Semicrystalline Gel State,” Macromolecules, 2018, 51, 6226-6237.
  9. Fahs, G.B.; Benson, S.D.; Moore, R.B. “Blocky Sulfonation of Syndiotactic Polystyrene:  A Facile Route Toward Tailored Ionomer Architecture via Post-Polymerization Functionalization in the Gel-State,” Macromolecules, 2017, 50, 2387-2396.
  10. Talley, S.J.; Yuan, X.; Moore, R.B. “Thermoreversible Gelation of Poly(ether ether ketone),” ACS Macro Letters, 2017, 6, 262-266.
  • John C. Schug Research Award, Virginia Tech Department of Chemistry, 2022
  • Fellow of the American Chemical Society, 2013
  • Distinguished Service Award, American Chemical Society, Division of Polymer Chemistry, 2012
  • Fellow of the Polymer Chemistry Division of the American Chemical Society, 2011
  • Chair of the Polymer Chemistry Division of the American Chemical Society, (Vice-Chair: 2009; Chair-Elect: 2010; Chair: 2011)
  • Editorial Advisory Board for the Journal of Macromolecular Science; Pure and Applied Chemistry, 2008-present
  • Distinguished Service Award, ACS Polymer Division, 2006
  • Trophy Award for Best Paper, 2004 MRS Fall Meeting, Boston, MA, 2004
  • Treasurer of the Polymer Chemistry Division of the American Chemical Society, 2003-2005
  • Chair, 2005 Gordon Research Conference on Ion-Containing Polymers, May 1-6, 2005, Il Ciocco, Barga, Italy
  • Program Co-Chair, 7th International Symposium on Polymers for Advanced Technologies, PAT, 2003
  • Distinguished Service Award, American Chemical Society, Division of Polymer Chemistry, 2001
  • Associate Editor of Polymer Preprints, American Chemical Society, Division of Polymer Chemistry, 1995-2000
  • Elected Member of the Board of Directors, Engineering Properties and Structure Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers, 2000-2004
  • ASEE-Navy Senior Summer Faculty Fellow, China Lake Naval Air Warfare Center, China Lake, CA, 1999
  • B.S. Chemistry Angelo State University, 1983
  • Ph.D. Texas A&M University, Analytical Chemistry, 1988
  • Postdoctoral Fellow with Prof. Adi Eisenberg, McGill University, Polymer Physical Chemistry, 1989–1990
  • Adjunct Professor of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Southern Mississippi, 2007–present
  • Associate Director for Research and Scholarship, Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science (ICTAS), Virginia Tech, 2010–2015
  • Affiliate Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Virginia Tech, 2010–present
  • Director, Macromolecular Science & Engineering Graduate Degree Program (MACR), Virginia Tech, 2015–present