Malik Maaza, University of South Africa
Nanosciences & Nanotechnologies Towards SDGs & Science with Social Impact
Written by Judy Meiksin and Matthew Hauwiller
The Enhancing Materials Science through Research Collaborations between African and Non-African Institutions session held at the 2024 MRS Spring Meeting & Exhibit in Seattle continued during the Virtual experience on May 8, with keynote speaker Malik Maaza of the University of South Africa. “Materials science is pivotal within the African landscape,” he said.
Maaza shared several research projects that integrated African indigenous knowledge with nanomaterials characterization and synthesis to innovate new solutions in medicine, sustainability, and optical materials, all tied to addressing some of the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs). In assembling the research teams, Maaza intentionally drew members, including graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, from countries throughout Africa and the global south while prioritizing having at least 50% women.
With the world population expected to reach ~2.5 billion in urban areas by 2050, with ~90% of this increase in Asia and Africa, green air-conditioning rises as one of the major technologies that needs to be achieved. According to Maaza, vanadium-based thermochromic nanocoatings are ideal for smart window applications regulating solar heat radiation with zero energy-input. Furthering the studies of vanadium, Maaza and colleagues worked with multilayered V2O5/V/V2O5 stacks deposited onto borosilicate glass substrates. The researchers varied the intermediate V layer within the range of 3–12 nm, which is within the coalescence threshold of vanadium. By controlling the nanoscale thickness of the intermediate V layer, Maaza’s group achieved net control and tunability of the optical transmission modulation in the NIR-IR region.
Maaza talked about his work with nanofluids as a new generation of superior coolants in waste heat recovery as well as for drug delivery. He reported his findings based on his study of Ag-H2O and Ag-C2H6O2 nanofluids; stable Ag-decorated 2D graphene nanocomposites; and gold nanoparticles-decorated graphene nanosheets.
“Zero hunger” is listed as the second SDG. Along with issues of transportation, Maaza said, “This shortage of food [especially] in Africa is related to the fertilizer market.” African countries rely on the import of fertilizer, which—particularly during times of war outside of Africa—can push food prices inexorably high. By hosting research fellows from various countries in Africa, Maaza was able to assemble a research team to study nanoparticles for developing a nanofertilizer prototype.
In the area of medicine, Maaza described research for protection against skin cancer and bacterial infection. His group relied on indigenous knowledge from communities in certain regions in southern Africa that was absent of these health problems. Maaza also covered research for water decontamination—referring to the problem of water scarcity as number six in the SDGs.
Maaza emphasized throughout his talk the value of international and intercontinental collaborations in the development of the materials research field in African countries toward global community benefits.