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 green solvents and their solutions, ionic liquid – polymer gel electrolytes, and polymer nanocomposites using natural product additives.  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.

Selected Publications

• D. M. Fox, J. Lee, M. Zammarano, D. Katsoulis, D. V. Eldred, L. Haverhals, P. C. Trulove, H. C. De Long, and J. W. Gilman, “Char – Forming Behavior of Nanofibrillated Cellulose Treated with Glycidyl Phenyl POSS,” Carbohydr. Polym., 2011, in press.
• M. Zammarano, P. Maupin, L.-P. Sung, J. Gilman, E. McCarthy, Y. Kim, and D. M. Fox, “Revealing the Interface in Polymer Nanocomposites,” ACS Nano, 2011, 5, 3391-3399.
• D. M. Fox, P. C. Trulove, H. C. De Long, J. W. Gilman, and P. H. Maupin, “Nonaqueous Solvatochromic Behavior of Nile Blue A Perchlorate in Imidazolium – Exchanged Clays and its Implication Toward Exfoliation in Polymeric Composites,” in Proc. Int. Symp. Molten Salts and Ionic Liquids 16, D. M. Fox, R. A. Mantz, P. C. Trulove, H. C. De Long, G. R. Stafford, and M. Matsunaga, Eds., ECS Transactions, 2009, 16(49), 141-149.
• D. M. Fox, J. W. Gilman, A. B. Morgan, J. R. Shields, P. H. Maupin, R. E. Lyon, H. C. De Long, and P. C. Trulove, “Flammability and Thermal Analysis Characterization of Imidazolium Based Ionic Liquids,” Ind. Chem. Eng. Res., 2008, 47, 6327-6332.
• R. A. Mantz, D. M. Fox, J. M. Green III, P. A. Fylstra, S. Bellayer, J. W. Gilman, P. C. Trulove, and H. C. De Long, “Dissolution of Biopolymers Using Ionic Liquids,” Z. Naturforsch. A, 2007, 62, 275-280.

Work In Progress

• "Reduced Polymer Flammability Using POSS-Modified Cellulose.”
• "Ion Exchange Equilibria and Kinetics of Lignosulfonates"
• “Liquid and Solvent Properties of the Mixtures, (S)-(-)-Ethyl Lactate + Ethyl Acetate and (S)-(-)-Ethyl Lactate + Ethyl Alcohol".
• “Effects of Clay Type and Co-Absorbed Surfactant on the Solvatochromism of Nile Blue Tagged Clays.”
• “Transport and Interfacial Properties of an Ionic Liquid Polymer Gel Electrolyte.”

Grants and Sponsored Research

• 2007, “Thermodynamic and Transport Properties of Room Temperature Ionic Liquid – Electrolyte Solutions,” AU-CAS.
• 2008, “Reduced Polymer Flammability Using POSS-Modified Cellulose”, NIST – BFRL Extramural Fire Research Grants Program, 3-yr project.
• 2010, “POSS-Modified Cellulose for Improved Biopolymer Performance”, US AFOSR – DURIP, 1-yr project.
• 2011, "Lignocellulosic Materials as Intumescing Flame Retardants for Bio-based Polymer Composites", NIST – BFRL Extramural Fire Research Grants Program, 3-yr project.

Professional Presentations

• “Modified Cellulosic Materials as Intumescing Flame Retardants for Poly(lactic acid),” 15th ACS Green Chemistry and Engineering Conf., Washington, DC, 2011.
• "POSS-Modified Cellulose Nanofibrils," 10th Int. Conf. Wood & Biofiber Plastic Composites, Madison, WI, May 2009.
• “Nonaqueous Solvochromatic Behavior of Nile Blue A Perchlorate in Imidazolium – Exchanged Clays,” 214th Natl ECS Mtg, Honolulu, HI, Oct 2008.
• “The Preparation and Characterization of Bombyx Mori Silk Nanocomposites Using Ionic Liquids,” 210th Natl ECS Mtg, Cancun, Mexico, Nov 2006.