Robert J. Moon

Current Research

Dr. Moon is an internationally recognized researcher in cellulose nanomaterials (CN). He is an expert in processing-structure-property relationships as they apply in various aspects of CN research, such as, nanocomposites, hybrid composites, recyclable solar cells, multi-scale modeling, characterization, etc.. His research program on nanoscale science and engineering of CNs are highly collaborative with Purdue University and Georgia Institute of Technology (GT), where he holds Adjunct Professor appointments in both the School of Materials Engineering (at Purdue University), and in the School of Materials Science and Engineering (at GT). Dr. Moon a member of and is currently stationed at the Renewable Bioproducts Institute at GT. Dr. Moon works to develop cellulose nanomaterials (CN) pre-structures (e.g. films, continuous fibers, spheres, etc.) combined with targeted CN surface treatments to produce industrially relevant CN composites with improved performance (thermo-mechanical properties, etc) and new functionality/capabilities (e.g., antimicrobial, current conduction, etc.). Resent work has been in the areas of new cement systems, flexible electronics, and functional fillers in various polymer systems.

Research Interest

•Processing-Structure-Property Relationships•Hierarchical Structure Effects on Properties•Fracture and Wear of Materials•Cellulose Nanomaterials: Composite Processing, Characterization, and Modeling•Cellulose Nanomaterials: for cements, flexible electronics, and functional fillers in polymers•Sustainable, Biodegradable, Carbon Neutral Materials

Past Research

Improved Fracture Toughness of Ceramics by Structural Design: 1997-2005Ceramic materials are increasingly being used in applications with extreme environments (e.g., wear, high temperatures, etc.), but they are brittle, cracking easily. There is a need to improve their durability. During his PhD and Post Doctorial studies, the Dr. Moon completed cutting-edge research in knowledge discovery on making ceramics more difficult to break via ground breaking investigations into how cracks grow. Through design of ceramic composites, the Dr. Moon focused on three key mechanisms for impeding crack growth; weak interlayers, residual stress, and graded layers (e.g., change in composition vs position). This work resulted in 17 publications.  Knowledge Synthesis and Assessment of Cellulose Nanomaterials: 2010-2018Dr. Moon strives to digest down the culmination of many studies and complex ideas regarding Cellulose nanomaterials (CN) into basic constructs, describe these in simple relevant terms, maintaining content consistency and integrity, and writing in a style that engages a wide spectrum of readers from various disciplines & level of expertise who are reading to be introduced to CNs or gain some new insights about the key concepts of these materials. Dr. Moon has co-lead three key publications in this area.

• Cellulose Nanomaterials Review: Structure, Properties and Nanocomposites. R Moon, A Martini, J Nairn, J Simonsen, and J Youngblood. . Chemical Society Reviews 40:3941-3994 (2011).
• Production and Applications of Cellulose Nanomaterials. Ed. MT Postek, RJ Moon, A Rudie, M Bilodeau, TAPPI Press. (June 2013).
• Current characterization methods for cellulose nanomaterials.  EJ Foster, RJ Moon, U Agarwal, MJ Bortner, J Bras, S Camarero-Espinosa, KJ Chan, MJD Clift, ED Cranston, S Eichhorn, D Fox, W Hamad, L Heux, B Jean, M Korey, W Nieh, KJ Ong, MS Reid, S Renneckar, R Roberts, JA Shatkin, J Simonsen, K Stinson-Bagby, N Wanasekara, J Youngblood. . Chemical Society Reviews 47:2609-2679 (2018).

Education

• Purdue University, Ph.D. Materials Engineering , 2000
• Purdue University, M.S. Metallurgical Engineering , 1996
• University of Wisconsin-Madison, B.S. Metallurgical Engineering , 1994

Professional Experience

• Adjunct Professor-, Materials Science & Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology 2014 - Current
• Adjunct Professor-, Materials Engineering, Purdue University 2007 - Current
• Visiting Scientist, University of New South Wales, Australia 2005 - 2005
• ARC Postdoctoral Fellow, University of New South Wales, Australia 2002 - 2005
• Visiting Scientist, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Japan 2002 - 2003
• Postdoctoral Researcher, University of New South Wales, Australia 2000 - 2001

Professional Organizations

• TAPPI NanoDivision, Chair Dr. Moon provides the direction, vision, and sets the goals of the division, and plays a central role in directing/shaping the content of the NANO conference. The NANO conference is the NanoDivision’s annual conference “The International Conference in Nanotechnology of Renewable Materials”, which is the preeminent international technical conference on the production, research, development, and application of cellulose nanomaterials. Under Dr. Moon’s leadership, the NanoDivision (initiated in 2011) has grown in membership, become self-sustaining, expanded beyond the pulp and paper disciplines and industries, expanded informational outreach, and expanded the content and grew attendance of the annual NANO conference. Dr. Moon led the development of a new organizational structure consisting of a leadership team and 5 committees (e.g., Producers, End-Users, Research, Student, and Webinar) that execute specific functions of the NanoDivision, its outreach and the organization and plan (2014 - Current)

Below are the 91 US Forest Service publications sorted by year. You may re-sort the list by: Title, Date Posted, Category, Publication or Year.