Weiguo Hu

Director NMR Core Facility

Research Interests

We are interested in the application of NMR spectroscopy in the areas of polymer morphology, molecular dynamics, and diffusion. The materials we study include elastomers, fibers, photovoltaic materials, polyolefins, ionomers, artificial bones, fire-retardant polymers, etc. We also inquire how the nanoscale structural and dynamical behavior governs materials’ macroscopic properties such as those under extreme dynamic environments.

Academic Background:

BS, Tsinghua University - 1992
MS, Tsinghua University - 1995
PhD, UMass Amherst - 1999

Current Research

1. Morphology and molecular dynamics of elastomers and how they affect the performance of the materials at high strain rate;

2. Morphology of photovoltaic polymeric materials;

3. Morphology of polyolefins;

4. Chemical structure and fire-retardation mechanisms of fire-retardant polymers and additives.

Selected Publications

“Facile Synthesis of Carbon-Containing Silicon Carbide and Silicon Oxycarbide Ceramic Nanocomposites via Rapid Photothermal Pyrolysis of Organosilicon Preceramic Polymers”, U. Okoroanyanwu, A. Bhardwaj, V. Einck, A. Ribbe, W. Hu, J. Morere, W.R. Schmidt, J.J. Watkins. Submitted to Advanced Functional Materials.

“Combining Mechanical Fortification and Ultra-low Flammability in Epoxy Networks”, C. Saraf, E. Stubbs, W. Hu, T. S. Emrick, A. J. Lesser, submitted to Macromolecular Materials and Engineering.

Characteristic Phosphorus of High Polymerization Ammonium Polyphosphate by 31P NMR”, Y. Liu, R. Yang, W. Hu, D. Li, Chem. J. Chin. Univ. 2020, in press

Modifying the Structure and Dynamics of Ionomers through Counterion Sterics”, J. S. Enokida, W. Hu, H. Fang, B. F. Morgan, F. L. Beyer, H. H. Winter, E. Bryan Coughlin, Macromolecules, 2020, 53, 1767-1776

Molecular Dependencies of Dynamic Stiffening and Strengthening through High Strain Rate Microparticle Impact of Polyurethane and Polyurea Elastomers”, Y. Sun, Y.-C. M. Wu, D. Veysset, S. E. Kooi, W. Hu, T. M. Swager, K. A. Nelson, A. J. Hsieh, Appl. Phys. Lett. 2019, 115, 093701

19F MRI of Polymer Nanogels Aided by Improved Segmental Mobility of Embedded Fluorine Moieties”, O. Munkhbat, M. Canakci, S. Zheng, W. Hu, B. Osborne, A. A. Bogdanov, and S. Thayumanavan, Biomacromolecules, 2019, 20 (2), pp 790–800

Unraveling the high strain-rate dynamic stiffening in select model polyurethanes − the role of intermolecular hydrogen bonding”, Y.-C. M. Wu, W. Hu, Y. Sun, D. Veysset, S. E. Kooi, K. A. Nelson, T. M. Swager, A. J. Hsieh, Polymer, 2019, 168, 218-227

Functional polymers for growth and stabilization of CsPbBr3 perovskite nanoparticles”, H. Kim, S. So, A. Ribbe, Y. Liu, W. Hu, V. V. Duzhko, R. C. Hayward, and T. Emrick, Chem. Commun. 2019, 55, 1833-1836

Characterization of High Polymerization Degree Ammonium Polyphosphate and Its Chain Structure by 31P NMR”, Y. Liu, R, Yang, D. Li, J. Liang, and W. Hu. Chem. J. Chin. Univ. 2018, 39, 2080-2088.

Broadening the scope for fluoride-free synthesis of siliceous zeolites”, V. Vattipalli, A. M. Paracha, W. Hu, H. Chen, and W. Fan, Angew. Chem. Intl. Ed. 2018, 57, 1-6.

Weiguo Hu

Institute for Applied Life Sciences