Applied Chemistry was established in 1986, and the Master's Degree Program of Applied Chemistry was approved to be established in 1999 and was authorized to award doctoral degrees in 2002. In 2001, Jilin Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry was established with the discipline of Organic Chemistry. It was designated as the provincial characteristic specialty of the "12th Five-Year Plan" in Jilin Province in 2011. After more than 30 years of development, the discipline has formed high-level teaching faculty.
Applied Chemistry relies on the profound science foundation of the discipline of chemistry at Jilin University, aims at the national demand, takes the application as the goal, and forms the discipline characteristics of both science and engineering. The discipline pays attention to the foundation, emphasizes application, focuses on solving the problems of chemical application technology development and process innovation, and guides the transformation of basic achievements into high-tech industries. The research areas of the discipline not only involve the whole field of chemistry and chemical industry but also intersects and permeates the fields of resources, energy, environment, materials, and life. The main research directions are mineral resources development and regeneration technology, biomass degradation and regeneration resources, micro/nano optoelectronic functional materials, preparation and functional application of nano-clusters, application of organic optoelectronic functional materials and devices, photoelectric catalytic treatment of environmental hazards, advanced polymer composite materials, synthesis and application development of biomedical materials and fine chemicals. Especially in oil shale resources near-critical water in-situ wet extraction process and system integration, rare earth and pure organic luminescent material preparation and device application, aerospace high-temperature resistant special engineering plastics design and processing, biomass near-critical water conversion, and comprehensive utilization.
In the past five years, Applied Chemistry has undertaken more than 40 scientific research projects at provincial and ministerial levels and above, with total funding exceeding 50 million yuan, including national key basic research and development programs (973 Programs and 863 Programs), national major science and technology projects (key technologies and equipment for efficient and comprehensive utilization of oil shale resources)Basic projects of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, key projects of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense in the 11th Five-Year Plan, projects of National Natural Science Foundation of China, projects of Jilin Provincial Science and Technology Department and etc. More than 220 SCI papers have been published in international famous professional journals, and the work has been positively evaluated and widely concerned by peer experts. Twenty-eight national invention patents were applied for, 19 were authorized, 3 invention patents were successfully transferred, and 5 national and provincial science and technology awards were obtained.
Applied Chemistry has always attached great importance to the cultivation of students’ innovative ability. Continuously reform the concept of innovative education, training system, and management mode, it has created a good academic atmosphere to enhance students’ innovative ability. It aims to cultivate compound applied chemistry talents with international vision, solid foundation, scientific and technological innovation, and application development ability, and strive to develop into an important base for national applied chemistry talent cultivation.