James A. Moore Professor Organic, Polymer Chemistry 2109 Empire State Hall 518.276.8481 moorej@rpi.edu

Dr. Moore received his B.S. in Chemistry from St. John's University, and his Ph.D. in Organic-Polymer Chemistry from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn in 1967. He also served as a National Institute of Health Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Mainz in West Germany in 1967-1968. Dr. Moore was a Research Associate at the University of Michigan for one year before joining RPI in 1969. In 1999, he won the Presidential Green Chemistry Award for his working using paper sludge waste products in polymer research.

Vapor Deposition Polymerization

A part of Moore’s work is directed toward the deposition of polymers by condensation of thermally or photochemically generated intermediates directly from the vapor state. Several of these materials are being evaluated for microelectronic applications as on-chip dielectrics. Polymers such as unsubstituted or fluorinated poly(paraxylylenes), poly(bis-benzocyclobutane) and poly(1,4-naphthalene) can be formed as thin transparent films by this approach.

Dendrimer Polyelectrolytes

Two areas of research activity impacting recent times in major areas are biotechnology and the synthesis of novel macromolecular architectures. Moore is building electrically charged macromolecules radially from a central core. The use of these novel polyelectrolytes as tools to separate proteins in an efficient and commercially viable mode is being developed in a collaborative effort with RPI’s chemical engineering department.

Novel Polymers and Polymerizations

Moore is studying ways to use materials obtainable from bio-mass (cellulose, starch, and related feed stocks) as raw materials for polymer synthesis. Currently, he is developing new classes of polymers, based on diphenolic acid (DPA), which can be efficiently produced from waste cellulose. DPA can be converted to high molecular weight hyperbranched polyester, which may be useful as blend compatibilizers. DPA can also be used to prepare functional polycarbonates similar to commercial materials but bearing a reactive carboxyl group along the polymer backbone.

J.A. Moore, T. Tannahill, “Homo- and Co-Polycarbonates and Blends Derived From Diphenolic Acid,” High Performance Polymers, 13 (2), S305-S316 (2001).

S.S. Bae, S.M. Cramer, J.A. Moore, N. Tugcu, “Stationary Phase Effects on the Dynamic Affinity of Low-Molecular Mass Displacers,” Journal of Chromatography A, 954 (1-2), 127-135 (2002).

S.M. Cramer, J.A. Moore, S.K. Park, N. Tugcu, “Synthesis and Characterization of High-Affinity, Low-Molecular Mass Displacers for Anion-Exchange Chromatography,” Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, 41 (25), 6482-6492 (2002).

P.M. Ajayan, D.L. Carroll, Y.Y. Choi, J.A. Moore, S.K. Nayak, Y.M. Zhang, “ Chemisorption of Acetone on Carbon Nanotubes,” Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 107 (35), 9308-9311 (2003).

J.A. Moore, R. Zhang, “Synthesis, Characterization, and Properties of Polycarbonate Containing Carboxyl Side Groups,” Macromol. Symp., 199, 375-390 (2003).