Chemistry of Materials

SRI’s Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory develops and advances materials and their processes through a broad range of chemical approaches. R&D approaches include synthesis of new polymeric materials such as:

  • Inorganic polymers

  • Organic-inorganic hybrids

  • Sol-gel

  • Graphene-based materials

  • Functional and structural polysiloxanes

  • Polyketones

  • Hydrolytic and biodegradable polymers

  • Polyolefins

  • Light-emitting polymers

Synthesis involves novel reactions and highly efficient organometallic catalysis.

Other activities involve ceramic and polymer processing including advanced composites and nanocomposites, and synthesis of ceramic nanopowders such as functionalized phosphors and contrast agents. SRI also studies fiber-reinforced ceramic and polymeric composites and various inorganic coatings and films with robust or optoelectronic performance.

Our research focuses on protection of ceramics, metals, and polymeric structures via wet-coating techniques.

Products + Solutions

brake rotor
Anti-Corrosion Coatings

Financial damage from corrosion to the transportation, marine, construction, machinery, and consumer appliance industries reaches tens of billions of dollars each year. Risks associated with metal corrosion range from marring aesthetics to serious structural instability.

Topics: Chemistry of Materials Coatings for Corrosion Resistance
business man touches the screen of his smart phone
Anti-Smudge Coatings

Anyone who has held a mobile phone or handheld game knows that in a short period of time, the glass display becomes visibly dirty. SRI offers a solution.

Topics: Chemistry of Materials Coatings for Corrosion Resistance
view of skyscraper from below
Blast Protection for Windows

SRI’s patented “soft catch” technology, available for license, retrofits windows to block shards of glass from entering after an exterior explosion.

Topics: Chemistry of Materials Force Protection Homeland Security + National Defense
NASA Scramjet
Ceramic Composites

The demand for fiber-reinforced composites is growing rapidly in the aerospace, wind power, and automotive markets as advanced technologies increasingly require lighter, tougher materials.

Topics: Ceramic Composites Chemistry of Materials Nanocomposite Synthesis Renewable Energy
MOCVD platter loaded for epitaxial crystal growth
Epitaxial MOCVD Growth and III-V Wafer Processing Services

SRI provides customer-focused foundry services for epitaxial growth and fabrication of compound-semiconductor optoelectronic devices.

Topics: Chemistry of Materials Microscience + Engineering Optoelectronics Semiconductor Materials
plastic bottles
Hydrolytic Polymers

SRI has developed a decomposable plastic, available for license, that is useful in applications such as garbage bags, food packaging, and diapers, as well as for medical equipment and supplies.

Topics: Chemistry of Materials
An SRI solar reactor
Low-Cost Process for Solar-Grade Silicon

Demand for solar energy is growing rapidly due to concerns about energy independence and the environment. Propelled by consumer interest and favorable public policy, there is a growing need for ample and affordable sources of silicon to create solar cells.

Topics: Chemistry of Materials Energy + Sustainability Energy Efficiency Energy Security Renewable Energy Solar Technology
water
Membranes for Water Desalination

Membranes created at SRI address new applications in water desalination.The prospect of large-scale, affordable desalination holds hope for increasing municipal supplies of drinking water, and supplying purified water to portable and shipboard systems.

Topics: Chemistry of Materials Water Research
Chemical reactor diagram
PERMIX Efficient Chemical Reactor

Chemical process industries require better control inside their reactors to improve the yield and purity of desired products with minimized waste product formation.

Topics: Chemistry of Materials
chart showing seismic waves
Seismic Testing by SRI RESCUE (Repeatable Earth Shaking by Controlled Underground Expansion)

The most devastating damage from earthquakes often results from structural collapse. SRI’s novel technology, RESCUE (Repeatable Earth Shaking by Controlled Underground Expansion), tests the stability of full-sized buildings in response to earthquake-like ground motion.

Topics: Chemistry of Materials

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