Contact Dr Sandun Dissanayake
- Tel: +44 (0) 1234 754968
- Email: sandun.dissanayake@cranfield.ac.uk
- ORCID
Areas of expertise
- Biomass and Waste
- Energy and the Environment
- Hydrogen
- Renewable Energy
- Low Carbon Technology
- Waste Management and Resource Efficiency
Background
Dr. Sandun Dissanayake is an interdisciplinary researcher dedicated to driving innovation in sustainable energy and materials to tackle climate change. With a diverse background spanning materials science, process and chemical engineering, nanoscience, geochemistry, and technology scale-up, his research focuses on pioneering circular and low-carbon solutions that challenge conventional thinking while delivering high-impact results.
Currently, his work integrates developing pilot scale sustainable and circular energy systems with advanced materials, focusing on low-carbon hydrogen generation, waste-to-energy technologies, and resource-efficient waste management. By bridging process chemistry with scalable technology development, Dr. Sandun explores how novel materials and engineered systems can drive high-efficiency, low-emission solutions for industrial applications.
At Cranfield, he is committed to advancing next-generation sustainable technologies through interdisciplinary collaboration and applied research. His long-term vision is to develop transformative, real-world solutions that merge circular economy principles with cutting-edge energy and materials innovation. Passionate about making a tangible impact, Dr. Sandun strives to create a future where technology aligns seamlessly with environmental responsibility and climate resilience.
Research opportunities
- Sustainable & Circular Energy – Low-carbon hydrogen, waste-to-energy, thermochemical processes
- Sustainable & Circular Materials – Resource recovery, nanomaterials, geochemistry, functional materials for clean energy
- Process & Chemical Engineering – Process optimization, scale-up, reaction engineering, green chemistry
- Waste Valorization & Resource Recovery – Circular economy, high-value products from waste, sustainable alternatives
- Technology Scale-Up & Industrial Applications – Bridging lab research to industry, decarbonization strategies
- Climate Change & Net-Zero Transition – Innovative low-carbon solutions, climate-resilient technologies
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Weligepola WKGV, Dissanayake DMSN, Mantilaka MMMGPG & Pitawala HMTGA. (2024). Slope-specific lateritization of garnet–sillimanite–gneiss cuestas in Matale area, Sri Lanka. International Journal of Earth Sciences, 113(5)
- Kawsihan A, Dissanayake DMSN, Rathuwadu NPW, Perera HCS, Dayananda KEDYT, .... (2023). Synthesis of an eco-inspired anticorrosive composite for mild steel applications. RSC Advances, 13(41)
- Dissanayake DMSN, Mantilaka MMMGPG, De Silva RT, De Silva KMN & Pitawala HMTGA. (2021). Laterite and its potential as an alternative-bauxite. Cleaner Materials, 1(December)
- Gunawardhana BPN, Gunathilake CA, Dayananda KEDYT, Dissanayake DMSN, Mantilaka MMMGPG, .... (2020). Synthesis of Hematite Nanodiscs from Natural Laterites and Investigating Their Adsorption Capability of Removing Ni2+ and Cd2+ Ions from Aqueous Solutions. Journal of Composites Science, 4(2)
- Mihiri Ekanayake UG, Dissanayake DMSN, Rathuwadu N, Kumarasinghe RKKGRG, Rodrigo SK, .... (2020). Facile fabrication of fluoro-polymer self-assembled ZnO nanoparticles mediated, durable and robust omniphobic surfaces on polyester fabrics. Journal of Fluorine Chemistry, 235
- Chandrakumara GTD, Dissanayake DMSN, Mantilaka MMMGPG, De Silva RT, Pitawala HMTGA, .... (2019). Eco-Friendly, Green Packaging Materials from Akaganeite and Hematite Nanoparticle-Reinforced Chitosan Nanocomposite Films. Journal of Nanomaterials, 2019(1)
- Dissanayake DMSN, Mantilaka MMMGPG, De Silva RT, Pitawala HMTGA, Nalin de Silva KM, .... (2019). Cost effective, industrially viable production of Fe2O3 nanoparticles from laterites and its adsorption capability. Materials Research Express, 6(10)
- Dissanayake DMSN, Mantilaka MMMGPG, Palihawadana TC, Chandrakumara GTD, De Silva RT, .... (2019). Facile and low-cost synthesis of pure hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanoparticles from naturally occurring laterites and their superior adsorption capability towards acid-dyes. RSC Advances, 9(37)
- Senthilnathan A, Dissanayake DMSN, Chandrakumara GTD, Mantilaka MMMGPG, Rajapakse RMG, .... (2019). Akaganeite nanorices deposited muscovite mica surfaces as sunlight active green photocatalyst. Royal Society Open Science, 6(3)