Professor Sunmoon Yu has joined the Department of Materials Science & Engineering as a tenure-track assistant professor in the area of Green Energy.
Prior to joining U of T, Yu served as a postdoctoral associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He earned his PhD in materials science and engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, supported by the prestigious Samsung Scholarship. His research has been recognized with an American Chemical Society Energy & Fuels Future Investigator Award, for his contributions to electroactive materials for electrochemical CO₂ capture and conversion.
Yu leads the Electrochemical Interfaces for Progress in Sustainability and Energy (ECLIPSE) Lab, where he designs electroactive materials with atomic-level precision to advance the green energy transition. His work integrates fundamental electrochemistry, operando characterization and device-level testing to decarbonize the production of chemicals and materials using CO₂ and other abundant small molecules.
Writer Sherry Esfahani spoke with Yu about his career and what led him to MSE.
What motivated you to join U of T Materials Science & Engineering, and how does it align with your academic interests?
My primary research interest is developing electroactive materials for a sustainable future, and the department was seeking someone to lead research in green energy materials — an ideal match. With its long-standing excellence in materials research and outstanding students, I found U of T to be the perfect place to launch my research group. Canada is also a dynamic environment for innovation, and I am excited that my work can help shape the country’s future.
Can you describe the vision behind the ECLIPSE Lab and what you hope students and collaborators will gain from being involved?
My vision is to use electrochemistry to upgrade abundant raw materials and small molecules — including CO₂, N₂, H₂O, and O₂ — into sustainable materials, chemicals and fuels. Students in my lab develop broad expertise spanning materials synthesis, fundamental electrochemistry, and advanced in situ and operando characterization, while addressing key challenges across electrochemical applications. I hope the lab becomes a birthplace for bold ideas and that students carry both the skill sets and mindset into careers in industry, startups, policy and academia worldwide.
Your work involves designing electroactive materials at the atomic level. What scientific challenges are you tackling, and why do they matter?
While materials science has advanced significantly in surface science, characterization and nanomaterials, the field still lacks true atomic- and molecular-level precision in materials design across applications. Developing this capability would unlock properties inaccessible with conventional materials and enable major breakthroughs. Our group designs electroactive materials with well-defined geometric and electronic structures to move beyond current performance limits, while leveraging in situ and operando techniques to directly connect structure, microenvironment and function in sustainable energy systems.
How does your research on electrochemical interfaces contribute to the green energy transition?
As renewable electricity becomes more accessible, electrochemistry will play a central role in storing energy in chemical bonds and replacing fossil fuel–based industrial processes. Because electrochemical reactions occur at electrode–electrolyte interfaces, understanding these interfaces is essential to predict and control performance. This insight enables efficient, selective and durable technologies for applications such as carbon capture, sustainable chemical production and critical mineral processing.
What advice would you give to students pursuing research at the intersection of materials science and sustainable energy?
Take full advantage of the outstanding courses offered in materials science, chemistry and electrochemistry. Learning from world-class researchers is a rare opportunity and a crucial time to build a strong foundation. A solid grounding in fundamentals empowers you to develop new ideas, design innovative materials and approach complex research challenges with depth and creativity.
