John Morris

John R. Morris is a Professor of Chemistry and Associate Dean for Research at the College of Science, Virginia Tech. He holds the Dr. A.C. Lilly Jr. Faculty Fellowship in Nanoscience. His research focuses on interfacial chemistry, with emphasis on gas-surface reactions, catalysis, and chemical sensing. Key projects include chemical warfare agent detection, environmental pollutant interactions, and energy materials.

Education:

• B.S., Aquinas College, 1991
• Ph.D., University of Notre Dame, 1996
• Postdoctoral Associate, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1996–1999

Research Interests:

Dr. Morris explores molecular mechanisms in gas-surface interactions using advanced techniques like molecular beam scattering and ultrahigh vacuum spectroscopy. His work addresses environmental chemistry (e.g., atmospheric pollutants), energy storage (e.g., MOFs for diborane), and defense applications (e.g., nerve agent decomposition). Recent studies include photocatalytic oxidation mechanisms on Au/TiO₂ and the development of novel sensors for volatile organic compounds.

Awards:

• National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2001)
• Army Research Office Young Investigator Award (2001)
• Schug Research Award (2012)

Advising & Grants: Morris has mentored over 10 students and led projects funded by NSF, DoD, and industry. His lab (005 Hahn Hall South) focuses on interdisciplinary collaborations in materials science and environmental chemistry.

Labs/Teams: The Morris Group operates a state-of-the-art facility for studying gas-surface reactions, including custom-built chambers for CRDS and molecular beam experiments.