The State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials (SKL-SSM) at Jilin University has a history of 40 years. The Key Laboratory was established on the basis of the Structure Chemistry Laboratory (founded in 1978 by Professor Au-chin Tang) at Jilin University. In 1993, Professor Jiacong Shen was appointed to the director of the laboratory, and thereafter the Supramolecular Chemistry become the main research area of the key laboratory. Plans for the establishment of the SKL-SSM at Jilin University were approved in 2007 by the Ministry of Science and Technology. In 2010, upon on-site review, the Ministry announced the completion and readiness of SKL-SSM. The laboratory has since opened its doors to researchers from the national and international communities.

At present, there are 70 permanent staff members in the laboratory, including 55 faculty members (among whom there are 2 academicians of CAS, 7 winners of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, 4 awardees of the Cheung Kung Scholar of Ministry of Education and 7 awardees of excellent young scientist foundation of NSFC), 11 technicians and 4 administrative staff. Professor Junqi Sun is the director of SKL-SSM and Professor Xue Duan, academician of the CAS, is the chairman of the Academic Committee.

The mission of SKL-SSM is to conduct fundamental research in supramolecular chemistry. Intercrossing with materials science, biology and other scientific fields, supramolecular chemistry will pave the way for exciting research and development. SKL-SSM research goals focus on developing the following interdisciplinary areas: (1) Supramolecular dynamic assembly and assembling process. (2) Supramolecular optoelectronic materials. (3) Assembly films and interface materials. (4) Biologically functional supramolecular assemblies. (5) Supramolecular recognition and detection.

To date, SKL-SSM has achieved significant advancements in the field of supramolecular chemistry and has gained 3 second prizes of the National Natural Science Award, and 1 program of Innovative Research Team supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. Besides, in the past five years more than 130 high quality papers have been published in high impact journals, such as Nat. Nanotechnol., Nat. Commun., J. Am. Chem. Soc. and Angew. Chem. Intl. Ed..

As an important part of the National Innovative System of Sciences and Technology, innovative research at SKL-SSM makes an impact to the national economic growth and social progress through its significant contribution to the development of science and technology.