NANOTECH

SRI LANKA INSTITUTE OF NANOTECHNOLOGY

Sustainable nanotechnology

ISSUE 2 | PAGE 1 News Bulletin
Nanontechnology in a Nutshell
SLINTEC
a. What is Nanotechnology: UP COMING EVENTS
Nanotechnology, or more accurately nanotechnologies, describes the many ways that scientists can now work with the
actual molecules and atoms that make up our world.
We measure things in meters and centimeters, but nano scientists work in nanometers, that’s a billionth of a meter. For
the mathematical pursuits among you, one nanometer is 10 -9 , of a meter, i.e.: 1/1,000,000,000. On the other hand, the
SLINTEC 8th
smallest living thing with a cell is a bacteria about 200 nm long... To understand the scale better think about the KNOWLEDGE
difference between a nanometer and a meter. It is the same size difference as a golf ball and the earth. Or another way
of putting it: a nanometer is the amount that a hair on a man's face grows in the time it takes him to lift his hand to
SEMINAR
shave.
by
Prof. A.P. de Silva
Queen’s University, UK
Ant = 5,000,000nm Pin Head=1,500,000nm MEMS=10,000 Blood Cell=7,500nm Human Hair Dia. = DNA=2.5 nm DECEMBER 2009
to 100,000 nm 80,000 nm Please send your reservation to
b. Beginning of Nanotechnology champag@susnanotec.lk
The first use of the ideas in 'nano-technology' (but before the name was invented) was in "There's Plenty of Room at the
Bottom," a talk given by the scientist Richard Feynman at an American Physical Society meeting at Caltech on December Natural Resources with
29, 1959. Feynman presented the idea of manipulating and controlling things on an extremely small scale by building Nano Application
and shaping matter one atom at a time. He described how the 24 volumes of the Encyclopedia Britannica could be
written down on the head of a pin.

c. Size Matters
For Scientists and technologists, this has special interest, because at this nanoscale materials don’t always behave as
they do when they are larger. In other words, materials reveal unique properties when compared not only with ordinary Read more ...
bulk sized materials, but also their molecules. In essence, they take advantages of properties that neither individual
molecules nor molecule structures exhibit.
What scientists do with nanotechnologies is take control of these reactions to make new products.
Contents
SLINTEC starts Nano Projects
Nano in Commerce:
Though it is too early to provide a conclusive list of Nano products, enlisted are some of the main areas where develop- Minister Tissa Vitharana’s visit
ments in nanotechnologies are utilized:
Computing & Electronic Goods Food & Drink SLINTEC web page launched
Textiles & Clothing Energy
Professor Sugiyama’s visit
Transport Cosmetics & Sunscreen
Sports & Leisure Constructions Establishment of NEMS/MEMS
Nano
Medical Defense in Design Centre
Paints & Coatings Tools Commerce
Market Driven Innovation at
Environment Surveillance SLINTEC
Packaging
SLINTEC featured in the World
The most exciting fact is that the list is growing…
Bank Report

Giving more value to Sri Lankan
Natural Resources through
Nano Safety: SLINTEC - (TiO2)
Despite an array of benefits that nanotechnology can provide to the humankind, as it is the case with any other
technologies, it is not hazardous-free. Because most of the nano materials behave differently than they do in their larger
Research & Analytical Services
forms, we should also be vigilant about their safety when they are used in these new ways. from SLINTEC

Read more on http://www.crnano.org/

Our Industry Partners

Changing Perspectives



SLINTEC featured in the World Bank Report
Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC) was featured in a new report by the World Bank titled, ”Leveraging
High Technology to Drive Innovation & Competitiveness in Key Export Industries & Building the Sri Lankan Knowledge
Economy”.

Among other things, it was mentioned in the report that the world bank inspection team, headed by the renowned 16th June 2009
scientist Dr. R.A Mashelkar, was impressed with the personnel at SLINTEC in terms of their "high level competency as
well as the commitment to make the initiative successful".

The report also praises the SLINTEC model of the private-public partnership, entered into by the National Science
Foundation and five of the leading corporate entities in Sri Lanka, Brandix, Dialog, Hayles, Loadstar and MAS.

The full report can be downloaded www.susnanotec.lk The reference to SLINTEC is from pages 103-109.

Giving More Value to Sri Lankan Natural Resources through SLINTEC: www.susnanotec.lk
A Case for Titanium Dioxide (TiO 2 ) The Oﬃcial launch of our website was
in September 2009. The site will
By Dr. Jeewantha Premaratne provide a plethora of information
about SLINTEC, SLINTEC Advantage,
Sri Lanka has vast deposits of ilmenite (FeTiO3) which is the major raw material for
Nano Business, Sri Lankan Nanotech-
titanium dioxide (TiO2 ) pigment production. Although commercially valuable miner- nology Initiatives etc. We are in the
als such as ilmenite, rutile (TiO2 ) and zircon (ZrSiO 4 ) occur in the beach sand of Sri process of making our website a
Lanka, it is only at certain locations that the deposits are sufficiently concentrated useful resource to anyone who is
interested in Nanotechnology. We
for economic exploitation. Major concentrated deposits are located along 72 km the north east coast stretch of Sri
Lanka. It has been estimated that north east coast contains 8-9 million tons of ilmenite, 1.0 million of rutile. The beach share information with the SLINTEC
mission of Nanotechnology for Made
sand deposits in the north east coast at Pulmoddai are very high grade, with a heavy mineral content of 80% and a
in Sri Lanka!
composition of 70-72% ilmenite, (FeTiO3 ), 8% rutile (TiO 2 ) and 8-10% zircon (ZrSiO2 ). The present plant has a capacity
of 150,000 tons of ilmenite (FeTiO3), 10,000 tons of rutile (TiO2 ) and 6,000 tons of zircon (ZrSiO4 ). The current annual
production of ilmenite is about 80,000 tons. Nano Quiz
Sri Lanka currently does not produce any type of value added (TiO2 ) pigments. The country imports its entire require- T physics lecture entitled “There’s
The
ment of titanium dioxide pigment (TiO 2 ). More than 90% of the titanium ore is processed into titanium dioxide plenty of Room at the Bottom”
pigment, known as titanium white, a brilliant white, non-toxic pigment. Titanium dioxide pigment (TiO2 ) is used as describing the nanoscale was given by
whitening, opacifying, self cleaning or UV-radiation protecting agent in paint, printing, rubber, paper, textile, (a). Richard Smalley
electronic, detergent, cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical industries. Approximately 60% of titanium dioxide pigment
(b). Richard Burton
produced globally goes into paint and coating industry, 20% into plastics, 13% into paper products and the remaining
©. Richard Feynman
7% into other industrial applications. For its use as a white pigment, titanium dioxide (TiO2) competes with ground
calcium carbonate, precipitated calcium carbonate, kaolin, and talc. Global demand for feedstock amounts to over 5 (d). Richard Petty
million tons annually. According to industry estimates, total annual sales for the titanium dioxide pigment industry and
T main diﬀerence between using
The
titanium metal markets are over US$ 12.0 billion
nanotools and regular lab equipment
is
The production of titanium dioxide (TiO2 ) pigment is extremely relevant to Sri Lankan condition and it is a keenly felt
requirement to set up a titanium dioxide pigment and nano-titanium dioxide manufacturing plants of global standard (a). size and scale
to develop the country’s economy using its natural earth resources. SLINTEC is getting ready to utilize the application (b). smell and sound
of microwave technology coupled with existing technology for the metallurgical processing of ilmenite ore to produce ©. Length and breath
high quality, marketable titanium dioxide and nano titanium dioxide pigments. SLINTEC will always innovate to (d). freezing and thawing
employ appropriate chemical manufacturing processes to minimize the damage to the eco-system. Green chemistry is
a set of principles and practices that aim to reduce the generation of hazardous materials in chemical products and
processes. Therefore, microwave heating is a potential beneficial technology for the titanium metallurgical industry A nanometer is equal to a
especially for the manufacturing of high quality titanium dioxide pigments and nano-TiO 2 effectively, efficiently and (a). zillionth of a meter
economically. (b). millionth of a meter
©. Billionth of a meter
It is important that Sri Lankan policy makers realize the potential of our resources and consider creative pathways for
the development of the country. SLINTEC is keen to support in Research & Development and Innovation with its access (d). trillionth of a meter
to high technology .




SLINTEC commences Science Projects
The chairperson of NSF, Prof. Sirimali Fernando visited SLINTEC on 12th August 2009 and our Science Team presented their inaugrural
SLINTEC initiated projects of its’ industry partners at this occasion. Distribution of Lab coats to Team SLINTEC was also done by Prof.
Sirimali and Deshamanya Mahesh Amalean, the Chairman of SLINTEC /MAS during this event.

Hon Minister of Science & Technology – Prof. Tissa Vitharana visited SLINTEC
Hon. Minister Prof. Tissa Vitharana visited SLINTEC on 14th Sept. 2009 along with some officials from the Ministry of Science & Technology,
National Science Foundation, Treasury etc. Representatives from the World Bank were also presented at this occasion.





SLINTEC
Market Driven Innovation at SLINTEC KNOWLEDGE
SEMINARS
SLINTEC launched a new project “ IPP-4 : 2010 “ to take SLINTEC to
Asia’s Leader in Sustainable nanotechnology. The main target of the
project is to apply 4 International Provisional Patents by year 2010 ,
with the aim of providing economic sustainability to our investor
companies, in other words, to give them a globally competitive
strategic differentiate as per our sustainable strategy. Team SLINTEC is
now focused to achieve this goal.

Prof. Susumu Sugiyama’s Visit & Establishment of NEMS/MEMS Design Centre
Prof. Susumu Sugiyama - Director, Research Institute for Nanomachine System Technology;
Professor, Ritsumeikan Global Innovation Research Organization, Ritsumeikan University, Shiga,
Japan visited SLINTEC on 8th September 2009. He works for SLINTEC as a special consultant to
develop Nano Electro Mechanical Systems (NEMS) and Micro Electro Mechanical Systems
(MEMS) Design Centre. At his visit, NEMS/MEMS Design Centre had been established success-
fully. Additionaly, he delivered an enlightening presentation to the Minister Prof. Tissa Vitharana,
and the representatives from the Ministry & the World Bank officials. Prof. Sugiyama has also
conducted a special tailor-made Presentation to the Team SLINTEC to develop their knowledge
about MEMS & NEMS.

In line with Prof. Sugiyama’s visit, SLINTEC Organised its’ 7th Knowledge Seminar at ITI Audito-
rium on 18th September 2009 about Nano Electro Mechanical Systems (NEMS) and Micro Electro
Mechanical Systems (MEMS) - “Progress of Integration in MEMS and New Industry Creation” .
Next time more about NEMS & MEMS....

5th SLINTEC Knowledge 6th SLINTEC Knowledge Semi-
Seminar on Smart Textile nar on Wealth Creation for a
by Dr. Thilak Dias. This Modern Nation via Nanotecnol-
was held at SLINTEC ogy by Prof. Ravi. P. Silva. This
Knowledge Center On was held at ITI Auditorium and
12th August, 2009. more than 130 Nano related
scientists were participated.
SLINTEC Knowledge Seminars
SLINTEC is bounded to educate and share the know-how of nano experts worldwide. To fulfill this worthy cause,
SLNITEC has conducted three Knowledge Seminars during August to September 2009 i.e.

“Wealth Creation for a Modern Nation via Nanotechnology” by
Prof. Ravi. P. Silva, BA MA PhD (Cantab) CEng CPhys FIEE FInstP FRSA - Head of Nano-Electronics Centre, Faculty of
Engineering & Physical Sciences, University of Surrey.

“Smart Textiles – Adding Value to Sri Lankan Textiles, the Electronic Textiles Option” by Dr. Thilak Dias
Head of the William Lee Innovation Centre, School of Materials, University of Manchester.

Nano Electro Mechanical Systems (NEMS) and Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) - “Progress of
Integration in MEMS and New Industry Creation” by Prof. Susumu Sugiyama - Director, Research Institute for
Nanomachine System Technology; Professor, Ritsumeikan Global Innovation Research Organization, Ritsumeikan
University Shiga, Japan.





SLINTEC’s Sustainable Nanotechnology brings Collab- SLINTEC
orative Research Initiatives with Ritsumeikan University, UP COMING EVENTS
Japan.
SLINTEC’s unwavering, explicit commitment to Sustainable Nanotechnology, which is built on three sustain-
SLINTEC 8th
ability dimensions, namely, Social, Environment and Economic, have started to paid off as research institutions KNOWLEDGE
in the world have begun to bridge their R & D initiatives with SLINTEC. SEMINAR
On 28th October 2009, the Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC) signed an agreement for collabora-
tive research with the Research Organization of the Science and Engineering of the Ritsumeikan University,
by
Japan.
Prof. A.P. de Silva
Ritsumeikan University has been one of the oldest and most prestigious private universities in Kyoto, Japan Queen’s University, UK
with a lot of collaborations with world leading companies in the automobile, robotics, electronics and health
care industries.
DECEMBER 2009
Please send your reservation to
Under the signed agreement, joint research activities in the Micro and Nano System Technology will be carried champag@susnanotec.lk
out. Further, the agreement will enable technology transfers between the two institutions by means of
exchanging researchers and postgraduate students. Natural Resources with
Nano Application
Prof. Susumu Sugiyama, the Director of Research Institute for Nanomachine System Technology of the
Ritsumeikan Global Innovation Organization exchanged the agreement on behalf of Prof. Masaaki Makikawa,
Executive Director of the Research Organization of the Science and Engineering of the Ritsumeikan University
with Mr. Ravi Fernando, Chief Executive Officer of the Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology.

Prof. Susumu Sugiyama is currently in Sri Lanka on a mission to establish a Micro Electro Mechanical Systems Read more ...
(MEMS) / Nano Electro Mechanical Systems (NEMS) Design Centre in SLINTEC, under the Expert Dispatch
program of Japanese International Corporation Agency (JAICA).
SLINTEC’S
Partnership...

On 28th October 2009 Loadstar,
who is one of our key partners,
donated two high-tech machines,
namely a Two Roll Mill & a Heat
Press, which are made by Loadstar
team, to SLINTEC to carry out their
R&D initiatives.



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