ABOUT
Robert J.
Moon
Adjunct Professor
Robert.j.moon@usda.gov
Paper Tricentennial Building, room 526

Dr. Robert Moon is a GS15 Materials Research Engineer within the Forest Biopolymer Science & Engineering research group at the USDA Forest Service - Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) in Madison WI.  He holds Adjunct Professor appointments in the School of Materials Science and Engineering at both Georgia Institute of Technology, and Purdue University. He received a B.S. in Metallurgy from the University of Wisconsin (1994), a M.S. (1996) and PhD (2000) in Materials Engineering from Purdue University, followed by an ARC postdoctoral fellow (2000-2005) at University of New South Wales (Australia). Since 2013, Dr. Moon has been stationed at Georgia Tech and is a member of the Renewable Bioproducts Institute.

Dr. Moon is an internationally recognized researcher in processing-structure-property relationships of cellulose nanomaterials (CNs). His research program is highly collaborative as has partnered with a diverse range of research groups to advance utilization of CNs by focusing on: i) knowledge synthesis and assessment, ii) characterization, image analysis, measurement and modeling, iii) composite processing, iv) new applications, and vi) development of workshops, road maps and standards.  Since 2020, he has served as The Director and technical lead for P3Nano for advancing the commercialization of CNs and oversees ~ $6 million in active projects.
 

Research Areas:
Composites
Nanostructures
Research Challenges:
Environment
Selected publications

For Detailed Publication Lists:

Selected Publications:

  1. KA Pham, T Harris, RJ Moon, K Kalaitzidou. The Effect of Nanocellulose Coating on S2-glass and E-glass Fabric Composites. Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites 07316844251366624 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1177/07316844251366624 
  2. R Moon, L Johnston, C Land-Hensdal, W Batchelor. Perspectives on cellulose nanofibril size measurement using scanning electron microscopy. Cellulose 32:2793-2810 (2025) https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-025-06458-2 Our work was featured on the Cover page
  3. KA Pham, T Harris, RJ Moon, K Kalaitzidou. Functionalized Cellulose Nanocrystal Sizing to Enhance Mechanical Properties of Glass Fiber–Reinforced Epoxy Laminates. Polymer Composites 47:556-567 (2025) https://doi.org/10.1002/pc.70166
  4. S Karimi, S Yucel, RJ Moon, LJ Johnston, NJ Bechle, W Batchelor, J-Y Cho, SR Kalidindi. A Semi-automatic Workflow for Atomic Force Microscopy Image Analysis and Cellulose Nanocrystal Particle Size Measurements. Cellulose 32:7535-7552 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-025-06690-w .
  5. U Ringania, RJ Moon, S Bhamla. Effect of fines percentage on ultrasonic dewatering of cellulose nanofibrils. Cellulose, 30(16), 10125-10138 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-023-05522-z 
  6. U Ringania, J Harrison, RJ Moon, M. Saad Bhamla. Dewatering of Cellulose Nanofibrils using Ultrasound. Cellulose 29, 5575–5591 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-022-04626-2 
  7. E DiLoreto, A Berman, RJ Moon, K Kalaitzidou. 2022. Lightweight Polyester Composites via Nanoreinforced Syntactic Foams. Journal of Composites Materials 56 (23), 3575-3590 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1177/00219983221114415 
  8. S Yucel, RJ Moon, LJ Johnston, DM Fox, BC Park, EJ Foster, SR Kalidindi. Transmission electron microscopy image analysis effects on cellulose nanocrystal particle size measurements. Cellulose 29, 9035-9053 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-022-04818-w Our work was featured on the Cover page
  9. S Yucel, RJ Moon, LJ Johnston, B Yucel, SR Kalidindi. Semi-automatic image analysis of particle morphology of cellulose nanocrystals. Cellulose 28(4): 2183-2201 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-020-03668-8 
  10. 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. Current characterization methods for cellulose nanomaterials. Chemical Society Reviews 47: 2609-2679 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CS00895J 
  11. RJ Moon, C Land Hensdal, S Beck, A Fall, J Costa, E Kojima, T Abitbol, V Raghuwanshi, C Walker, W Batchelor. Setting priorities in CNF particle size measurement: What is needed vs. what is feasible. TAPPI Journal 22(2):116-137. (2023) DOI: 10.32964/TJ22.2.116. https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/66039 
  12. MC Li, Q Wu, RJ Moon, MA Hubbe, MJ Bortner. Rheological Aspects of Cellulose Nanomaterials: Governing Factors and Emerging Applications. Advanced Materials 2006052. (2021) https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202006052 
  13. S.M. El Awad Azrak, JA Gohl, RJ Moon, GT Schueneman, CS Davis, and JP Youngblood. Controlled Dispersion and Setting of Cellulose Nanofibril (CNF) - Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) Pastes. Cellulose 28: 9149-9168 (2021) https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-021-04081-5 
  14. RJ Moon, A Martini, J Nairn, J Simonsen, J Youngblood. “Cellulose Nanomaterials Review: Structure, Properties and Nanocomposites”, Chemical Society Reviews 40:3941-3994. (2011) https://doi.org/10.1039/C0CS00108B 
  15. RJ Moon, GT Schueneman, J Simonsen. Overview of Cellulose Nanomaterials, Their Capabilities and Applications. JOM 68: 2383-2394 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-016-2018-7 

 

Education
  • 1994 - BS in Metallurgical Engineering, University of Wisconsin
  • 1996 - MS in Metallurgical Engineering, Purdue University
  • 2000 - Ph.D in Materials Engineering, Purdue University        
Awards
  • 2025 - TAPPI NanoDivision Distinguished Scientist Award 
  • 2023 - TAPPI Fellow
  • 2021 - TAPPI NanoDivision Leadership & Service Award
Research Interests

Dr Moon’s current research interests center around cellulose nanomaterials (CNs) and their utilization in various product platforms. The approach used is in identifying mechanisms that give rise to the processing-structure-property relationships needed for optimized performance and function in prototyping CNs for use in batteries, composites, concrete, drilling fluids, food coatings, pesticides, sun screens, gels, etc.