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Douglas Fox Professor and Department Chair, Chemistry Chemistry

Additional Positions at AU
Affiliated with Department of Environmental Science
Degrees
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, 1995

Ph.D. Chemistry, Michigan Technological University, 2001

Bio
Douglas M. Fox received his BS in Chemical Engineering and his PhD in Chemistry at Michigan Technological University, in Houghton, MI. He spent two years at the Naval Research Laboratory and two years at the U.S. Naval Academy investigating the physical and thermal properties of room temperature ionic liquids and polymer nanocomposites. His research and teaching focus is on “green chemistry”, environmental solutions, and the use of natural materials. His current projects utilize carbohydrates to improve the flammability, water resistance, and strength of materials.
See Also
Chemistry Department
Biomaterials Design Lab
Sustainability Blog
For the Media
To request an interview for a news story, call AU Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.

Teaching

Fall 2024

  • CHEM-415 Advanced Physical Chemistry

  • CHEM-471 Exper Biological Chemistry I

Partnerships & Affiliations

Scholarly, Creative & Professional Activities

Research Interests

Dr. Fox's group focuses on measuring physical, chemical, and thermal properties of alternative (or "green") solutions and polymer nanocomposites.  The three main current projects are polymer nanocomposites using additives prepared from natural materials, green solvents and their solutions, and kinetics of metathesis reactions.  The majority of work is conducted on the AU campus; however, some measurements must be acquired in collaboration with groups at the NIST in nearby Gaithersburg, MD.

Grants and Sponsored Research

  • 2018 - 2022, "Improving Interfaces of Cellulose Nanomaterials Through Ion Exchange", NIST – MSE Research Grants Program.

  • 2021, "Nanocellulose Fluorescent Labeling" Vireo Advisors. 

Selected Publications

  • K. Brown, M. Mendoza, T. Tinsley, M. Y. Bee-DiGregorio, M. Bible, J. L. Brooks, M. Colorado, J. Esenther, A. Farag, R. Gill, E. N. Kalivas, R. Lara, A. Lutz, J. Nazaire, A. Rasines, R. S. Rodriguez, J. C. Schwabacher, A. G. Zestos, M. R. Hartings, and D. M. Fox, “Polyvinyl Alcohol-Montmorillonite composites for water purification: Analysis of clay mineral cation exchange and composite particle synthesis,” Polyhedron, 2021, 205, 115297 (7pp).
  • I. Patel, J. W. Woodcock, R. Beams, S. J. Stranick, R. Nieuwendaal, J. W. Gilman, M. R. Mulenos, C. Sayes, M. Salari, G. M. DeLoid, P. Demokritou, B. Harper, S. Harper, K. Ong, J. Shatkin, and D. M. Fox, “Fluorescently Labeled Cellulose Nanofibers for Environmental Health and Safety Studies,” Nanomaterials, 2021, 11, 1015 (19pp).
  • D. M. Fox, W. Cho, L. Dubrulle, P. G. Grützmacher, and M. Zammarano, “Intumescent Polydopamine Coatings for Fire Protection,” Green Materials, 2020, 8, 162 – 171.
  • J. Goswami, E. Haque, D. M. Fox, J. W. Gilman, G. Holmes, R. J. Moon, and K. Kalaitzidou, “The Effect of Cellulose Nanocrystal Coating on the Glass Fiber – Epoxy Interphase,” Materials, 2019, 12, 1951 (15pp).
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Work In Progress

  • "Durable Flame Retardant Coatings Using Natural Materials.”
  • "Ion Exchange Equilibria and Kinetics of Lignocellulosic Materials."  
  • “Surface Modification of Cellulose Nanomaterials.”      
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AU Experts

Area of Expertise

green chemistry, green flame retardants, carbohydrate nanomaterials

Additional Information

Fox's group focuses on measuring physical, chemical, and thermal properties of alternative (or "green") solutions and polymer nanocomposites.  The three main current projects are polymer nanocomposites using additives prepared from natural materials, green solvents and their solutions, and kinetics of metathesis reactions.  The majority of work is conducted on the AU campus; however, some measurements must be acquired in collaboration with groups at the NIST in nearby Gaithersburg, MD.

For the Media

To request an interview for a news story, call AU Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.

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