Chemistry | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation
Chemistry
Understanding the basic properties of matter and forging the chemicals of the future.
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We support breakthroughs in chemistry that enhance nearly every aspect of daily life, from pharmaceuticals to plastics, environmental cleanup to battling pandemics.
NSF-backed research has led to new ways to identify infection gateways of the coronavirus, made an aerogel out of common egg whites that can filter water and store energy, and devised methods to break down or reuse plastic waste.
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Division of Chemistry
Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences
What we support
Discovery and innovation in chemistry
We support research on the composition, structure, property and reactivity of the basic components of matter.
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World-class research centers and facilities
We support a network of research centers and user facilities that tackle grand scientific and societal challenges and train the next generation of chemists.
Learn about Centers for Chemical Innovation
Education and workforce development
We support training and educational opportunities that allow more people and communities to explore a rewarding career in the chemical sciences.
Sustainable chemistry
We support chemical research aimed at improving the sustainability of resources such energy, materials and water.
Learn about sustainable chemistry at NSF
Facilities
We
support facilities housing advanced chemical research instrumentation and capabilities that scientists across the country are able to use in their work.
NSF Chemistry and Materials Center for Advanced Radiation Sources
ChemMatCARS
provides instruments and experiment stations that use the high-energy X-rays provided by the Advanced Photon Source at the Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory.
NSF Ion Cyclotron Resonance Facility
The ICR facility at the
NSF National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
houses four Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometers that enable fast and high-resolution analysis of complex chemical mixtures.
NSF National Extreme Ultrafast Science
NeXUS
provides researchers with access to a high-speed pulse laser enabling their investigation of phenomena such as the ultra-fast motion inside molecules.
Related topics
Artificial intelligence
Biotechnology
Energy technology
Materials research
Nanotechnology
Sustainable chemistry
Quantum information science
Featured news
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Podcast: AI-powered labs accelerating scientific discovery
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July 22, 2025
NSF Graduate Research Fellow helps turn 'forever chemicals' into valuable resource
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Educational resources
View lesson plans, activities and multimedia for K–12 audiences that focus on explorations of chemistry.
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