Chemical Sciences Scope & Major Goals
Statement: Proposals that involve probing fundamental aspects of chemical science, synthetic, computational, physical as well as analytical, that lead to translational output of immediate relevance to societal needs are welcome. The projects are expected to lead to demonstrable outcomes in terms of real-world applications.
Major Goal
Ability to design and manipulate matter using principles of chemistry.
Priority Areas
- Energy Conversion and Storage: Understanding electron/ion coupled transport in diverse battery/fuel-cell systems; development of novel catalysts for dinitrogen and carbon-oxygen bond activation; heterogeneous catalysis utilizing porous organic polymers (POPs).
- Organic and Bio-Catalysis (Catalysis on Demand): Asymmetric synthesis, novel enzymatic reaction cascades, chemical biology, sustainable chemistry, and upcycling of waste plastics and polymers.
- Capture, Utilization & Storage of Small Molecules: Selective capture and electrochemical conversion of $CO_2$; reversible hydrogen ($H_2$) storage systems; molecular scavenging of pollutants from contaminated groundwater and industrial air emissions.
- Functional Molecules & Supramolecular Assemblies: Smart responsive molecular devices for point-of-care disease diagnostics, targeted cancer therapeutics, and municipal water purification.