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Christopher JonesAssociate Professor Office: ES&T 2222 Phone: 404-385-1683 Fax: 404-894-2866 |
Ph.D., 1999, California Institute of Technology; M.S., 1997, California Institute of Technology; B.S.E., 1995, University of Michigan
J. Carl and Sheila Pirkle Faculty Fellow, 2005-2008; DuPont Young Professor Award, 2005; Sigma Xi Young Faculty Award, 2004; Young Scientists Prize, 13th International Congress on Catalysis, 2004; CETL/BP Junior Faculty Teaching Excellence Award, 2004; CAREER AWARD, National Science Foundation, 2002-2007; Ralph Powe Junior Faculty Award, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, 2001; Junior Faculty Award, Shell Oil Company Foundation, 2001, 2002, 2003; Innovation Recognition Award, Union Carbide, 1999
Research Interests
Dr. Jones' research interest is in the areas of catalysis, molecular engineering of materials, and polymerization. His research group's work on the rational design of molecularly-engineered materials draws from a number of different disciplines to enable the development of functional materials with applications in areas such as catalysis, separations and chemical sensing. His group seeks to utilize advanced inorganic, organic and organometallic synthetic techniques to endow solid materials with well-characterized surfaces where the physical and chemical properties of the solid are manipulated by understanding and controlling the structure of the material on all length scales. In particular, significant focus is placed on the molecular design and nanoscale engineering of silica surfaces. While targeting industrially relevant, practical goals, their research focuses on the fundamental issues involved in the design and characterization of novel functional solid materials, with a specific emphasis on catalytic materials. This research sits squarely at the crossroads of chemical engineering, chemistry and materials science. New catalysts are synthesized using wet-chemical methods and characterized by a battery of thermal, spectroscopic, adsorption and catalytic techniques. In all cases, they seek to explain macroscale catalytic performance by a detailed understanding of the micro and mesoscale structure of the catalyst. This understanding can then be used to develop future generations of catalysts. Specific research areas are described on the Jones Group Page.
Publications
“Recyclable Polymerization Catalysts: Methyl Methacrylate Polymerization with Silica-Supported CuBr-Bipyridine Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization Catalysts.” J. V. Nguyen and C. W. Jones, J. Catal. 2005, 232, 276-294.
“Design of Silica-Tethered Metal Complexes for Polymerization Catalysis.” C. W. Jones, M. W. McKittrick, J. V. Nguyen and K. Yu, Top. Catal. 2005, 34, 67-76.
“RAFT Polymerization of Vinyl Acetate in Miniemulsion” J. P. Russum, N. D. Barbre, C. W. Jones, F. J. Schork, J. Polym. Sci. Polym. Chem. 2005, 43, 2188-2193.
“Continuous Living Polymerization in Miniemulsion Using Reversible Addition Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) Polymerization in a Tubular Reactor.” J. P. Russum, C. W. Jones and F. J. Schork, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2005, 44, 2484-2493.
“Continuous RAFT Miniemulsion Polymerization of Styrene in a Train of CSTRs.” W. Smulders, C. W. Jones and F. J. Schork, AIChE J. 2005, 51, 1009-1021.
“Evidence that SCS Pincer Pd(II) Complexes are only Precatalysts in Heck Catalysis and the Implications for Recycle and Reuse.” K. Yu, W. Sommer, J. Richardson, M. Weck and C. W. Jones, Adv. Synth. Catal. 2005, 347, 161-171.
“A Recoverable, Metal-Free Catalyst for the Green Polymerization of e-Caprolactone.” B. C. Wilson and C. W. Jones, Macromolecules 2004, 37, 9709-9714.
“Synthesis of Block Copolymers Using RAFT Miniemulsion Polymerization in a Train of CSTRs.” W. Smulders, C. W. Jones and F. J. Schork, Macromolecules 2004, 37, 9345-9354.
“Effect of Site-Isolation on the Preparation and Performance of Silica-Immobilized Ti CGC-Inspired Ethylene Polymerization Catalysts.” M. W. McKittrick and C. W. Jones, J. Catal. 2004, 227, 186-201.
“Role of Amine Structure and Site-Isolation on the Performance of Aminosilica-Immobilized Zr CGC-Inspired Ethylene Polymerization Catalysts.” K. Yu, M. W. McKittrick, and C. W. Jones, Organometallics 2004, 23, 4089-4096.
“Silica-Tethered Pd-SCS-Pincer Complexes: Evidence for Precatalyst Decomposition to Form Soluble Catalytic Species in Heck Chemistry.” K. Yu, W. Sommer, M. Weck and C. W. Jones, J. Catal. 2004, 226, 101-110.
“Continuous RAFT Polymerization in Miniemulsion Utilizing a Multi-Tube Reaction System.” J. P. Russum, C. W. Jones and F. J. Schork, Macromol. Rapid Commun. 2004, 25, 1064-1068.
“Towards Single-Site, Immobilized Molecular Catalysts: Site-Isolated Ti Ethylene Polymerization Catalysts Supported on Porous Silica.” M. W. McKittrick and C. W. Jones, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 3052-3053.
“Elucidating the Role of Silica Surfaces in the Ring-Opening Polymerization of Lactide – Catalytic Behavior of Silica-Immobilized Zinc b-Diiminate Complexes.” K. Yu and C. W. Jones, J. Catal. 2004, 222, 558-564.
“Design, Behavior and Recycling of Silica-Supported CuBr-Bipyridine ATRP Catalysts.” J. V. Nguyen and C. W. Jones, Macromolecules 2004, 37, 1190-1203.
“Effect of Synthetic Method and Support Porosity on the Structure and Performance of Silica-Supported CuBr/Pyridylmethanimine Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization Catalysts: II. Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate.” J. V. Nguyen and C.W. Jones, J. Polym. Sci. Polym. Chem. 2004, 42, 1384-1399.
“Effect of Synthetic Method and Support Porosity on the Structure and Performance of Silica-Supported CuBr/Pyridylmethanimine Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization Catalysts: I. Catalyst Preparation and Characterization.” J. V. Nguyen and C.W. Jones, J. Polym. Sci. Polym.Chem. 2004, 42, 1367-1383.
“Silica-Immobilized Zinc b-Diiminate Catalysts for the Copolymerization of Epoxide and Carbon Dioxide.” K. Yu and C. W. Jones, Organometallics 2003, 22, 2571-2580.
“Towards Single-Site Functional Materials – Preparation of Amine-Functionalized Surfaces Exhibiting Site-Isolated Behavior.” M. W. McKittrick and C. W. Jones, Chem. Mater. 2003, 15, 1132-1139.