Dr. Lahiru Wijenayaka

Senior Lecturer


Chemistry
Faculty of Natural Sciences
RG GS
Senior Lecturer
Contact:

Colombo Regional Center, Faculty of Natural Sciences, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Nawala

Office: +94112 881 371, Ext: - Mobile: 774468206

E-mail: lawij@ou.ac.lk lahiruaw@gmail.com


Academic record –

  • PhD in Chemistry – University of Iowa, Iowa, USA (2015)
  • BSc (Special Degree in Chemistry) – University of Colombo (2008)

Professional record –

  • Senior Lecturer, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, The Open University of Sri Lanka (2019 to present)
  • Senior Research Scientist, Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC), Pitipana, Homagama (2015 – 2019)
  • Graduate Teaching/Research Assistant, Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa, USA (2009 – 2015)
Areas of Specialization:

Physical Chemistry and Nanoscience

Research interests:

Noble metal and semiconductor nanomaterials: Novel synthetic approaches and ensuing applications

Affiliations:

NULL

Course Coordination:

CYU3302 – Basic Practical Chemistry, CYU5614 – Physical Chemistry I, CYU5308 – Instrumental Methods of Chemical Analysis

Awards:
  • AAOU Best Practice Award (Silver Medal) – Annual conference of the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) (June 2021)
  • COL-AAOU 2021 Fellowship Grant – Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) (June 2021)
  • Best Online Course Award (CYU3302 – Basic Practical Chemistry) – Open University of Sri Lanka (November 2020)
  • Overall Best Presenter (Delegate) – ICNSNT (International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology) 2016, Colombo, Sri Lanka (December 2016)
  • Sessions Best Presenter – ICNSNT (International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology) 2016, Colombo, Sri Lanka (December 2016)
  • Graduate College Post Comprehensive Summer Research Award – Graduate College, University of Iowa, USA (May 2015)
  • Graduate College Summer Dissertation Fellowship – Graduate College, University of Iowa, USA (May 2013)
  • Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award – Council on Teaching, University of Iowa, USA (May 2012)
  • Perlyn Perera Memorial Gold Medal for Best Performance in Physical Chemistry – University of Colombo, Sri Lanka (August 2008)
Researches:
  • Lahiru A. Wijenayaka,  Ruchira N. Wijesena, Nadeeka D. Tissera, Nisansala Bandara, Ishara Dharmasena, Indrachapa Bandara, D. Dahanayaka, and K. M. Nalin de Silva. Infrared Absorbing Nanoparticle Impregnated Self-heating Fabrics: A Novel Paradigm of Improved Moisture Management (In submission)
  • Roshanthi Eranga Karunaratne, Lahiru A. Wijenayaka, Sandya Sulochana Wijesundera, K.M. Nalin De Silva, Chamila Priyangani Adikaram and Jennifer Perera. Use of nanotechnology for infectious disease diagnostics: application in drug resistant tuberculosis (In submission)
  • Ruchira Wijesena, Nadeeka Tissera, Nalin de Silva, Gehan Amaratunga, Ishara Dharmasena, Nisansala Bandara, Lahiru A. Wijenayaka, Indrachapa Bandara. Near infrared energy absorbing textile. US Patent application number 15/141,292 (filed on 28th April 2016)
  • Pramujitha MendisRohini M. de Silva,  K. M. Nalin de SilvaLahiru A. WijenayakaKalana Jayawardana and Mingdi Yan. Nanosilver rainbow: a rapid and facile method to tune different colours of nanosilver through the controlled synthesis of stable spherical silver nanoparticles. RSC Adv., 2016, 6, 48792-48799
  • Lahiru A. Wijenayaka, Michael R. Ivanov, Christopher M. Cheatum, and Amanda J. Haes, Improved Parameterization for xDLVO Predictions of Functionalized Gold Nanosphere Stability. J. Phys. Chem. C, 2015, 119 (18), pp 10064–10075
  • Lahiru A. Wijenayaka, Gayan Rubasinghege, Jonas Baltrusaitis, and Vicki H. Grassian. Surface Chemistry of α-FeOOH Nanorods and Microrods with Gas-Phase Nitric Acid and Water Vapor: Insights into the Role of Particle Size, Surface Structure, and Surface Hydroxyl Groups in the Adsorption and Reactivity of α-FeOOH with Atmospheric Gases. J. Phys. Chem. C, 2012, 116 (23), pp 12566–12577
  • Lahiru A. Wijenayaka and Sujatha Hewage. Designing of a Water Quality Index for Weras Ganga. Abstracts 2007/2008. Department of Chemistry. University of Colombo; p 67
  • Lahiru A. Wijenayaka and Sujatha Hewage. Designing of a Water Quality Index for Weras Ganga. Proceedings of the 64th Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science; 2008 December 1-5; Colombo, Sri Lanka; p 148; Abstract No. 619/E2
Publications:
  • Lahiru A. Wijenayaka, Induni Siriwardena, Anoja Senthilnathan, Damayanthi Dahanayake, Rohini M. de Silva and K. M. Nalin de Silva. Precursor Mediated One-pot Synthesis of the Nanosilver Rainbow: Implications for Morphological Evolution and Ensuing Properties, International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology – 2016, Colombo, Sri Lanka
  • Maheshika Perera, Lahiru A. Wijenayaka, and K. M. Nalin de Silva. A Novel, Facile, and Green Chemical Route to Gold Nanoparticles, International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology – 2016, Colombo, Sri Lanka
  • Lahiru A. Wijenayaka, Michael R. Ivanov, Christopher M. Cheatum, and Amanda J. Haes. Size-dependent van der Waals Interactions and the Improved Prediction of Gold Nanoparticle Stability, Optical Science and Technology Center (OSTC) annual symposium 2015, University of Iowa, Iowa, USA
  • Lahiru A. Wijenayaka, Michael R. Ivanov, Christopher M. Cheatum, and Amanda J. Haes, Size-dependent Dielectric Properties of Gold: A Novel Insight on Size-dependent Interactions, 127th Annual Meeting of the Iowa Academy of Science 2015, Iowa Memorial Union, University of Iowa, Iowa, USA
  • Lahiru A. Wijenayaka, Michael R. Ivanov, Christopher M. Cheatum, and Amanda J. Haes. Size-dependent Dielectric Properties and the Ensuing Size-dependent Hamaker Constants of Gold Nanoparticles, James F. Jacobson Graduate Conference 2015, University of Iowa, Iowa, USA
  • Lahiru A. Wijenayaka, Michael R. Ivanov, Christopher M. Cheatum, and Amanda J. Haes. Improved Prediction of Functionalized Nanoparticle Metastability using xDLVO Theory, James F. Jacobson Graduate Conference 2014, University of Iowa, Iowa, USA
  • Lahiru A. Wijenayaka, Michael R. Ivanov, Christopher M. Cheatum, and Amanda J. Haes. Improved Prediction of Functionalized Nanoparticle Metastability using xDLVO Theory, Optical Science and Technology Center (OSTC) annual symposium 2014, University of Iowa, Iowa, USA
  • Amanda J Haes, Lahiru A. Wijenayaka, Christopher M Cheatum, and Michael Ivanov. Towards the Prediction of Solution-phase Gold Nanoparticle Stability; 248th ACS National Meeting and Exposition; August 2014, San Francisco, CA, USA
  • Lahiru A. Wijenayaka, Binaya Shrestha, Christopher M. Cheatum, and Amanda J. Haes. Progress towards the development of surface enhanced two-dimensional Infra-Red spectroscopy, Optical Science and Technology Center (OSTC) annual symposium 2013, University of Iowa, Iowa, USA
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