Prof Martin Ntwaeaborwa
Photo: Johan Roux

Nanosciences employed in the battle of the big C  



Prof Martin Ntwaeoborwa introduction: video
 
Prof Martin Ntwaeaborwa of the Department of Physics is in the race to find less invasive treatment for the big C, Cancer. His research also focuses on the study of luminescent nanomaterials in powder and thin film forms for application in light-emitting diodes, displays, solar cells and photodynamic therapy (treatment of cancer).

He has a long list of research achievements. He demonstrated that photoluminescence intensity of rare-earth ions doped in silica matrix was improved by a factor of about 10 when zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were added to the matrix and this was attributed to energy transfer from ZnO nanoparticles to rare earth ions. The use of energy capture and transfer to rare earth ions has the potential to increase the photoluminescence quantum yield by a factor greater than 10 to values approaching 90%.

He demonstrated that the efficiency of organic solar cells can be improved by about 20% when zinc oxide nanoparticles are incorporated as electron transport layer. He produced white phosphor that can be used in white-light emitting diodes for general lighting.

Prof Ntwaeaborwa is president of the SA Nanotechnology Initiative, member of the adjudication panel of the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) representing the education sector, board member of the National Centre for High-resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (CHRTEM), director of the UNESCO-TWAS Centre of Excellence; and board member of the Department of Materials Science of Ithemba labs.

In 2009 he received NSTF’s National Young Researcher award and the Young Researcher award from the American Vacuum Society in 2010.