
Tom Apple
Provost of the University of Delaware, July 2009 - Present; Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Chemistry 2005–2009
(302) 831-2793
Biography
Professor Apple received his B.S. in biology from Penn State University in 1976 and his Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the University of Delaware in 1981. He did postdoctoral work at Iowa State University from 1981 to 1983. He was an Assistant Professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln from 1983 to 1988 and an Associate Professor from 1988 to 1991. While at UNL Prof. Apple twice was awarded the UNL Parent’s Association Teaching Award. He moved his lab to Rensselaer in 1991, and was promoted to Full Professor and served as department Chair from 1997 until 2001. At Rensselaer Prof. Apple was awarded the Trustees Outstanding Teacher Award. He was appointed Dean of Graduate Education in 2001 and Vice Provost in 2002. Prof. Apple joined the University of Delaware in July 2005 as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Chemistry.
CURRENT RESEARCH
Our research group is studying organo-silicon polymers, fuel cell membranes and heterogeneous catalysts by solid-state NMR.
Organosilicon polymers
We are investigating the physical properties and chemical reactivity of poly-carbosilanes and siliconoxycarbides by solid-state NMR. These polymers exhibit interesting multiphase behavior, which manifests itself in differing motional properties. We have studied the motions by 2H NMR. Our initial studies indicate that the material is semicrystalline and undergoes 3-bond rearrangements at the glass transition temperature and 5-bond crankshaft motions as the temperature is raised.
The pyrolysis of these polymers to form SiC is also under investigation by NMR. These materials are unique in that they have a ratio of Si:C of 1:1 and thus are not prone to the problems of carbon-rich precursor materials.
Fluoro and cyano substituted polycarbosilanes offer potential as piezoelectric materials. We have been studying the microstructure of these materials under various preparation schemes. NMR studies have shown that the material forms in the all-trans crystalline state, a condition conducive to piezoelectric behavior.
Fuel cell membranes
We are investigating the behavior of fuel cell membranes based upon PBI. We are using pulsed field gradient methods to determine proton mobilities in the membranes and the effect of incorporating zirconium phosphate nano-particles on the electrical and mechanical properties of the films.
deNox Catalysts
NMR methods are being applied to the study of the reduction of NO over V2O5/TiO2 catalysts. The bonding states of the reductant NH3 and its interaction with NO on the catalyst surface are being studied.
Temperature, catalysts loading and the presence or absence of water all play a major role in the reaction mechanisms and the ultimate selectivity and reactivity of the catalyst. We are studying both the reactant molecules and the catalyst surface to glean information on the relevant catalysis.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS
- Z. Wu, J. P. Papandrea, T. Apple and L. V. Interrante “Cross-Linkable Carbosilane Polymers with Imbedded Disilacyclobutane Rings Derived by Acyclic Diene Metathesis Polymerization,” Macromolecules, (2004) 37, 5257-5264.
- Z. Wu, J. P. Papandrea, A. P. Singh, P. G. Ganesan, T. Apple, R. Ganapathiraman and L. V. Interrante “Carbosilane films formation by thermal cross-linking of cyclolinear polycarbosilanes,” Polym. Prepr. (2004) 45, 118.
- Z. Wu, J. P. Papandrea, T. Apple and L. V. Interrante “Synthesis and Thermal Crosslinking of Cyclolinear Carbosilane Polymers,” Polym. Prepr., (2003) 44, 789-790.
- C. J. Wiegand, L. V. Interrante and T. Apple, “Motional Studies of Deuterated Polysilaethylene by 2H-NMR,” Polym. Prepr. (2003) 44, 309.
- M. Lienhard, C. Wiegand, T. Apple and L. V. Interrante, “Synthesis and characterization of cyano-substituted disilacyclobutane rings and poly(silylenemethylene) polymers,” J. Organometal. Chem., (2003) 686(1-2), 272-280.
- M. Narisawa, T. Hasegawa, K. Okamura, M. Itoh, T. Apple, K. Moraes and L. Interrante “Synthesis of Silicon Carbide Films from Partially Oxidized Polyvinylsilane by Carbon Tetrachloride Solution Casting,” J. Mater. Res., (2002) 1, 214.
- B.J. Ash, D. F. Rogers, L.S. Schadler, R. W. Siegel, B.C. Benicewicz and T. Apple “Mechanical Properties of Al2O3/ Polymethylmethacrylate Nanocomposites,” Polymer Composites, (2002) 23, 1014.
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