MOON RESEARCH GROUP
Soft materials for membrane separations for clean water, energy, and sustainability
Our experimental research group focuses on designing and understanding advanced polymer materials for membrane separations to overcome Grand Challenges in clean water and energy production. We combine modular polymer synthesis with experimental tools that probe both macroscopic transport phenomena and molecular-scale polymer properties to uncover the fundamental mass transfer principles that govern membrane separation efficiency. These principles enable rational design of the next generation of membrane materials for robust gas, vapor, and water separations. Applications of interest to our group include carbon capture and sequestration, clean hydrogen production, energy-efficient hydrocarbon purification, water treatment, and environmental remediation.
Recent News
October 2024: New funded grant
We are excited to announce that we have been awarded a second NSF grant (CBET-2427603)! This award funded by the CBET Interfacial Engineering program will focus on Rational Design of Polymer Ionic Liquid Membranes through Uncovering Fundamental Gas Transport Mechanisms. This award is a collaboration with Co-PI Prof. Sergey Vasenkov in UF’s Department of Chemical Engineering.
August 2024: New funded grant
We are excited to announce that we have been awarded our first NSF grant (CBET-2343767)! This award funded by the CBET Interfacial Engineering program will focus on Engineering molecularly precise, sub-nanometer gas transport pathways in robust macrocycle membranes. This award is a collaboration with Co-PI Prof. Austin Evans in UF’s Department of Chemistry.
May 2024: Student award
Congratulations to Faith Dobias (Moon group undergrad student) for being selected as a 2024 Michelin Science Scholar! This new program supported by Michelin recognizes promising undergraduate researchers working in chemistry, materials science, and engineering.
May 2024: Graduating student
Congratulations to Siqi Wang (Moon group MS student) for accepting an offer to pursue her PhD in Chemical Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin! We wish you the best!
January 2024: New PhD student
Welcome to Danielle Loftis as a new PhD student in the Moon group! Danielle is working on synthesizing novel PIM gas separation membranes and investigating correlations between polymer structure, dynamics, and gas transport properties
August 2023: New PhD student
Welcome to Lakshay Dhamania as a new PhD student in the Moon group! Lakshay is studying transport mechanisms of PFAS capture from aqueous solutions using chemically-tailored polymer absorbents.
We’re recruiting!
We are actively recruiting motivated PhD students for Fall 2026! Applications from candidates with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in chemical engineering, materials science, or a related discipline are highly encouraged to apply, particularly those with research experience in experimental membrane or separations science, transport phenomena, polymer chemistry, and/or polymer physics.
If you are interested in a PhD position in the Moon lab, apply to the UF Chemical Engineering program by December for admission using the link on this page. Interested candidates are also welcome to contact Dr. Moon with a CV highlighting their relevant research background and skills.
Research areas of interest
Understanding transport mechanisms in gas & vapor separation membranes
Click-functionalized adsorbents for removing persistent pollutants from water
Tailoring polymer structure and dynamics for efficient membrane separations