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.
Group News
August 2023
Welcome to Siqi Wang as a new MS student in the Moon group! Siqi holds a bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Capital Normal University, China, where she conducted graphene and hydrogel research guided by Professor Liu Jiaqi. In the Moon group, she will be working on synthesizing and characterizing modular, low polydispersity polymers for gas separation membranes to understand the underlying mechanisms of plasticization.
August 2023
Welcome to Lakshay Dhamania as the newest PhD student in the Moon group! Lakshay completed his B.S. from the University School of Chemical Technology in India and recently completed his M.S. at the University of Florida. During his Masters, he worked with Dr. Sergey Vasenkov to quantify gas diffusion in mixed-matrix membranes using high field Pulsed-Field Gradient NMR. In the Moon group, Lakshay will be studying PFAS capture in chemically-tailored polymer absorbents.
We’re recruiting!
We are actively recruiting motivated PhD students for 2025! Applications from candidates with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in engineering, materials science, or a related discipline are highly encouraged to apply, particularly those with research experience in experimental membrane 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