Chemistry Research in NTU

Research within the Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry covers a wide spectrum of topics. We are particularly strong in synthetic chemistry, biological and medicinal chemistry, imaging and sensing, main group chemistry, and femtochemistry.

In 2020, Nature Index ranked NTU 23rd among worldwide academic institutions in chemistry research.

We are housed in one of the world's best chemistry buildings, equipped with state-of-the-art instruments including seven high-field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometers, an Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (ESR) spectrometer, a confocal microscope, three X-ray diffractometers, and a range of mass spectrometers, Transmission Electron Microscopes (TEMs), and other instruments. These facilities are accessible not only to postgraduate researchers, but also to undergraduates

Recent Research Highlights

Creating Pollen-Based Microrobots

In a feat of nanotechnology, researchers have developed self-propelling microrobots made of pollen grains.
18 Nov 2020

Discovery of a Two-Dimensional Carborane Cluster

Chemists have isolated a new form of carborane, a flat cluster of carbon and boron atoms, overturning established theoretical rules of cluster chemistry.
20 Jul 2020

Uncovering the Properties of Wild Edible Bird’s Nest

Chemistry researchers discover why edible bird's nest harvested in the wild differs from farmed bird's nest.
9 Jul 2020

First Ultrafast Observation of Water Radical Ions

One of the fastest chemical processes known to mankind has been observed for the first time.
15 Jan 2020

Novel Photocatalyst Breaks Down Plastic Waste

A newly-developed method harnesses sunlight to turn plastic waste into useful chemicals.
12 Dec 2019

New Technology to Identify Airborne Chemicals

A new technique can identify airborne chemicals instantly and at a distance, using a porous nanomaterial and Raman spectroscopy.
16 Oct 2019