In this talk I will provide a comprehensive overview of our research on developing novel materials for photonics while combining experimental and computational tools. First, I will discuss our progress towards discovering new optical emitters for thermophotovoltaics that operate >1,500 ^oC. Second, I will share how we established a field termed ‘transient photonics’, where we developed optical devices that vanish in water after stable operation. Third, I will present how the alloying of metals can be effectively used to engineer the electromagnetic spectrum, relevant for photo-catalysis. An outlook of potential research directions in photonics with burgeoning materials will be presented.