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Douglas Fox Professor Chemistry

Contact
Send email to Douglas Fox
(202) 885-1735
CAS - Chemistry
Beeghly - 206
W 10AM-12PM F 12PM-2PM by appt
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
Fox Research Page
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 2020

  • CHEM-111 General Chemistry I Laboratory

  • CORE-105 Complex Problems Seminar: Food Water Energy Nexus

Spring 2021

  • CHEM-410 Biophysical Chemistry

  • CHEM-606 Trace Analysis

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

  • 2017, "Biomacromolecules as Flame Retardants for Wood-Based Construction Materials withImproved Weatherability", NIST – DR Research Grants Program.

  • 2016, "Fluorescent Cellulose Nanomaterial Development Project" P3Nano (USDA) 

Selected Publications

  • D. M. Fox, W. Cho, L. Dubrulle, P. G. Grützmacher, and M. Zammarano, “Intumescent Polydopamine Coatings for Fire Protection,” Green Materials, accepted.
  • Foster, E. J., Moon, R. J., Agarwal, U., Bortner, M., Bras, J., Camarero-Espinosa, S., Chan, K., Clift, M., Cranston, E., Eichorn, S., Fox, D., Hamad, W., Heux, L., Jean, B., Korey, M., Nieh, W., Ong, K., Reid, M., Rennekar, S., Roberts, R., Shatkin, J. A., Simonsen, J., Stinson-Bagby, K., Wanasekara, N., Youngblood, J. “Current characterization methods for cellulose nanomaterials,” Chemical Society Reviews, 2018, 47, 2609-2679.
  • D. M. Fox, R. S. Rodriguez, M. Devilbiss, J. Woodcock, C. S. Davis, R. Sinko, S. Keten, and J. W. Gilman, , “Simultaneously Tailoring Surface Energies and Thermal Stabilities of Cellulose Nanocrystals Using Ion Exchange: Effects on Polymer Composite Properties for Transportation, Infrastructure, and Renewable Energy Applications,” ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2016, 8, 27270-27281.
  • D. M. Fox, M. Novy, K. Brown, M. Zammarano, R. H. Harris Jr., M. Murariu, E. McCarthy, J. Seppala, and J. W. Gilman, “Flame Retarded Poly(lactic acid) Using POSS-Modified Cellulose. 2. Effects of Intumescing Flame Retardant Formulations on Polymer Degradation and Composite Physical Properties,” Polym. Degrad. Stab., 2014, 106, 54-62.
  • D. M. Fox, J. Lee, C. J. Citro, and M. Novy, “Flame Retarded Poly(lactic acid) Using POSS-Modified Cellulose. 1. Thermal and Combustion Properties of Intumescing Composites,” Polym. Degrad. Stab., 2013, 98, 590-596.
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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.”      
  • "Liquid and Solvent Properties of the Mixtures Containing Ethyl Lactate."  
  • “Electrochemical Response of a Protein Based Electrode Using Bovine Serum Albumin Encapsulated Gold.”
  • "Polymer-Clay Beads for Wastewater Treatment"

AU Experts

Area of Expertise

green chemistry, green flame retardants

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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