With ever-increasing human population, depleting natural resources, and rapid climate change confronting humanity, the role of chemistry is becoming more crucial in addressing these issues and establishing systems for sustainable growth. Herein, recent efforts in our research center (National CRI Center for Intelligent Hybrids), utilizing both organic and inorganic material design and synthesis, to address key issues to such an end are described. We have established novel chemical methods for the direct utilization of elemental sulfur. More than seven million tons of elemental sulfur are produced in excess each year and are stockpiled in landfill-like deposits in remote areas. Sulfur and sulfur-containing materials exhibit a variety of desirable properties ranging from high electrochemical capacities to high refractive indices, which are of high interest from both industrial and academic perspectives. Useful conversion of such industrial wastes into functional materials in processible forms, through novel chemistry, for key applications such as Nexgen Li-sulfur batteries, thermal IR imaging, and high refractive optical systems will be introduced.

From industrial wastes to functional materials: Hybrid materials based on sulfur

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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