Research Output per Year
Research Output per Year
Overview
Personal Profile
Robert Allen joined NREL to focus on sustainable polymers and composites for the future circular economy. He was department head of Polymer Science and Technology at the IBM Almaden Research Center in San Jose, California, where he spent 35 years as an industrial polymer chemist and research leader. While at IBM, he developed a chemical recycling process called the VolCat process, a catalyzed glycolysis depolymerization of PET and other polyesters for the production of high-quality monomer from low quality mixed waste plastics. The process uses a volatile organic catalyst, which enables simplified downstream processing. IBM is working with partners to commercialize this process.
For much of his career at IBM Research, Allen was focused on inventing polymers for semiconductor patterning. He led IBM in the quest to achieve industry-leading lithography performance in 193nm photoresist technology. As such, IBM was able to manufacture its chips using this new technology before its competitors. His polymer designs for several generations of 193nm (dry and water immersion) lithography were commercialized through partnerships with chemical companies and are used today worldwide for the patterning of semiconductor chips.
Professional Experience
IBM Research
Master Inventor
Distinguished Researcher
Senior Manager, Chemical and Polymer Research Department, Almaden
Manager, Almaden Lithography Research Group
Research Team Lead, 193nm Photoresists
Education/Academic Qualification
Bachelor, Chemistry, Gannon College
PhD, Polymer Chemistry, Virginia Tech
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Collaborations and Top Research Areas From the Past 5 Years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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Synergistic Dual-Cure Reactions for the Fabrication of Thermosets by Chemical Heating
McGraw, M., Addison, B., Clarke, R., Allen, R. & Rorrer, N., 2024, In: ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering. 12, 32, p. 11913-11927 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
1 Scopus Citations -
Synthesis, Characterization, and Recycling of Bio-Derivable Polyester Covalently Adaptable Networks for Industrial Composite Applications
Wang, C., Singh, A., Rognerud, E., Murray, R., Musgrave, G., Skala, M., Murdy, P., DesVeaux, J., Nicholson, S., Harris, K., Canty, R., Mohr, F., Shapiro, A., Barnes, D., Beach, R., Allen, R., Beckham, G. & Rorrer, N., 2024, In: Matter. 7, 2, p. 550-568 19 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
9 Scopus Citations -
Advanced Packaging Designs
DeVoto, D., Major, J., Paret, P., Allen, B., Miscall, J., Xue, L., Herczeg, S. & Smith, G., 2023, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).Research output: NREL › Poster
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Elastomeric Vitrimers from Designer Polyhydroxyalkanoates with Recyclability and Biodegradability: Article No. eadi1735
Cywar, R., Ling, C., Clarke, R., Kim, D. H., Kneucker, C., Salvachua, D., Addison, B., Hesse, S., Takacs, C., Xu, S., Demirtas, M., Woodworth, S., Rorrer, N., Johnson, C., Tassone, C., Allen, R., Chen, E. & Beckham, G., 2023, In: Science Advances. 9, 47, 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
8 Scopus Citations -
Expanding Plastics Recycling Technologies: Chemical Aspects, Technology Status and Challenges
Li, H., Aguirre-Villegas, H., Allen, R., Bai, X., Benson, C., Beckham, G., Bradshaw, S., Brown, J., Brown, R., Sanchez Castillo, M., Cecon, V., Curley, J., Curtzwiler, G., Dong, S., Gaddameedi, S., Garcia, J., Hermans, I., Kim, M., Ma, J. & Mark, L. & 14 others, , 2022, In: ChemRxiv. 200 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
Activities
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American Chemical Society (External organization)
Ginley, D. (Member), Ware, L. (Member), Allen, B. (Fellow), Rumbles, G. (Member), Perkins, C. (Member), Johnson, D. (Member), Ferrell, J. (Member), Arellano Trevino, M. (Member), Neale, N. (Member), Bell, R. (Member), Klein, R. (Member), Aubry, T. (Member), Bharadwaj, V. (Member), Wieliczka, B. (Member), Hermosilla Palacios, A. (Member), Puente-Urbina, A. (Member), Maughan, A. (Member), Wiley, S. (Member), Kluherz, T. (Member), Kurtz, S. (Member), Schichtl, Z. (Member), Dong, Y. (Member), Thodika, M. (Member), Carvalho, Q. (Member), Truong, T. (Member), Clarke, R. (Member), Kiani, D. (Member), Lee, M. (Member), McGeehan, J. (Member), Brady, N. (Member) & Yang, B. (Member)
0001Activity: Membership › Membership of network
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National Academy of Engineering (External organization)
Allen, B. (Member) & Green, P. (Member)
0001Activity: Membership › Membership of network
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SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering (External organization)
Ginley, D. (Member), Allen, B. (Fellow), Miller, D. (Member) & Marder, S. (Fellow)
0001Activity: Membership › Membership of network
Awards and Honors
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American Chemical Society Industrial Polymer Chemistry Award
Allen, B. (Recipient), 2014
Prize: Honorary award
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