Having a Sri Lankan be recognised on the global stage is always a very heartening experience. Recently, Sri Lankan scientist and Director of Advanced Technology Institute at the University of Surrey Professor Ravi Silva was awarded a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in recognition of his work in science education and research over the last three decades.
The CBE is awarded to individuals for having a prominent role at national level, or a leading role at regional level and also for distinguished and innovative contribution to any area.
Prof. Silva received the award for outstanding services to science, education, and research over the last three decades, with contributions that extend around the world.
His research into energy materials will play a key role in next-generation solar cells and energy storage. Prof. Silva firmly believes that by adopting a solar energy future, solar electricity could become a free energy source within the next two decades.
Prof. Silva has also worked extensively to support the Sri Lankan industry as a Founding Director of the Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC), a private-public partnership set up in 2008, where he acts as an advisor and sits on the Board of Directors. The Sunday Morning Brunch reached out to Prof. Silva in the wake of his CBE to learn more about his work and his vision for nanotechnology and solar-driven future.
What exactly is nanotechnology, and how did you get interested in the field?
Nanotechnology is the field of research working in the “nano” or one-billionth of a metre, or mathematically 10-9m scale materials and devices. It is working at the limits of where matter can be predictably moved from one position to another to form efficient systems. It may feel strange, but the most well-known “nano-machine” is the human. We humans are programmed by DNA strands that are typically a few nano-metres in diameter. On a day-to-day level, a nano-metre is about one-10,000th of the diameter of a human hair.
I have been working on carbon nanotechnology for nearly three decades. It all started with my PhD at Cambridge, under the supervision of Prof. Gehan Amaratunga, a pioneer in the field. Since 1995, I moved to the University of Surrey and set up the Carbon Nanotechnology activity which has grown to be a leading activity worldwide. I now lead an institute, the Advanced Technology Institute (ATI) Surrey which has around 150 researchers working on different aspects of quantum and nanotechnologies with practical applications in energy, manufacturing, and industry – some of which include intelligent displays, anti-bacterial coatings, materials for spacecraft, nanocomposites for buildings and structures, Fourth Generation (4G) solar cells and batteries.
You are one of the Founding Directors of SLINTEC. Tell us more about SLINTEC and what they are doing.
I was fortunate to have met Prof. Tissa Vitarana in 2005 when he was the Minister in charge of Science and Technology, and together with his help and introduction, approached former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to help set up SLINTEC.
Despite the prevailing conditions in the country, the President backed the cabinet paper to set up SLINTEC in 2006. With the help of some fantastic forward-thinking private sector chairmen and chief executive officers (CEOs), SLINTEC was set up as a private-public partnership (PPP) in 2008 and has gone from strength to strength since.
It is now a premier research institute in a 50-acre science park in Homagama, helping to innovate and value-add to Sri Lankan products with the help of nanotechnology. SLINTEC has helped greatly in the current Covid pandemic, using its resources to support the country, and will continue to ensure the national interest comes first by providing the necessary impetus and technology to add maximum value to local innovations.
From tyres to agriculture, medicine to energy, wearable tech to textiles, water to minerals; nanotechnology has a major role to play and SLINTEC is at the forefront of its innovation and exploration.
You have also led the setting up of one of the UK’s largest carbon nanotechnology labs at the University of Surrey. How did this come to be?
Having moved to the University of Surrey from Cambridge University in 1995, I was fortunate enough to be one of the founders in setting up the Advanced Technology Institute in 2001. Building the carbon nanotechnology group from one person to around 20 in the five few years, we are around 50 at present and sit within the multidisciplinary Advanced Technology Institute.
At the ATI we can examine materials from its ab initio state of modelling of atoms and molecules, to nano-scale devices and systems, and then apply it to much larger macroscopic applications such as solar cells and battery storage using novel materials and technologies. We have many industrialists supporting our activities at the institute, as without them it is not possible to scale up to be able to provide real-world solutions to societal problems. This is an area the University of Surrey is very strong in and has been its ethos since its foundation.
You are very passionate about solar energy. Tell us about the importance of solar energy and the role it can play in the future.
The world is at a crucial state, in not only its current “operational” status with the pandemic affecting all society around the world; it is also at a tipping point when it comes to the world climate.
Without routes to decrease the carbon dioxide emissions, we could make our planet unsustainable for human habitation within the next 50 years. As a result, there is an urgent need for green energy technologies that will not add to carbon emissions. One of the most important and significant sources of energy is the Sun. In an hour, the Earth receives enough energy from the Sun to power the entire world for a year. Therefore, if we can produce inexpensive solar cells that have a payback time of less than a year, this would be a wonderful opportunity.
This is what we are working on: Fourth Generation (4G) organic-inorganic solar cells. In my view, within the next two decades, we can drop the cost of solar cells such that solar electricity can be provided free of charge and become part of the heritage much like the culture we all share in. I gave a talk to The National Trust Sri Lanka in July 2019 outlining this titled: “Clean, Green, and Free: Solar Electricity for 2035”.
How can nanotechnology help Sri Lanka? What role can it play?
Nanotechnology is a greater leveller for technologies. It can allow for countries with less infrastructure and resources to compete with developed nations on efficiency and production costs. You can make things cheaper, stronger, more efficient and multifunctional, by incorporating nanoscale features in products. These can range from everyday items such as paints to building materials, fertiliser to water purification, electronics to displays, textiles to rubber products, medicines to pharmaceuticals, solar cells to batteries, etc.
Wherever you look, you will find nanotechnology is present in design and fabrication. The new Industry 4.0 paradigm change is based on MEMS (micro-electromechanical system) and NEMS (nanoelectromechanical systems) nanotechnology products allowing for the sensors to pass on the information for both vertically and horizontally-integrated supply systems.
In Sri Lanka in particular, we can reduce our foreign exchange transactions in fertiliser by going into a nano-fertiliser, we can come up with novel water purification techniques, we can help in solar cell and battery production, we can look for new wearable technologies that not only act as your clothing material but also your personal guardian angel. It is possible to toughen everyday composites, make surfaces antibacterial, make medicines more potent with catalytic particles, self-cleaning glass and porcelain; to name a few applications. The list is non-exhaustive – it is as infinite as your imagination.
