by
Prof. A.P. de Silva
Emeritus Professor, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering,
Queen’s University,
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Jointly organized by
National Academy of Sciences Sri Lanka (NASSL)
National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka (NSF)
Date: 2025.01.10
Time: 3.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m.
Venue: Auditorium, National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka
Target Audience
Scientists, researchers, professionals, students, etc. in the related fields
About the speaker
Professor A.P. de Silva, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry at Queen’s University Belfast, obtained his BSc in 1976 from the University of Colombo and PhD in 1980 from Queen’s University Belfast. A pioneer in photophysics, photochemistry, and molecular logic-based computation, he developed the fluorescent PET sensor principle, widely used in over 1200 laboratories, and collaborated with Roche Diagnostics on the OPTI blood electrolyte analyzer, a life-saving innovation with global impact. His work in molecular logic, practiced in over 1730 laboratories, earned him the Royal Society of Chemistry’s National Chemical Landmark Award. He is an elected member of the Royal Irish Academy and a Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences Sri Lanka.
Please click on the following link to register for this in-person session on or before 09.01.2025:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc2bKrWjsDCkbnbTy8osCevgf9E8QeS2r_rlYrUlQUr00fEjg/viewform
(Seats will be limited and registrations will be accommodated in the first-come first-served basis)
Molecular Logic Based Computation
The silicon-based information technology revolution affects the way we all live. Chemists may participate in this revolution by building molecular-scale information processors which would be smaller than the smallest silicon-based electronic devices. However, many difficulties have prevented progress along this path. Our approach to this problem uses chemical species as inputs and light as output. Wireless interfacing of molecular-scale devices to human operators thus becomes possible. A whole family of molecular logic operations with gradually increasing complexity have been built in this way by us and more than 1730 other laboratories worldwide. This approach is central to the carbon-based information technology revolution which has been less celebrated, but which resides in each one of us. It is life itself.
How are chemical input - light output systems designed? This is achieved by controlling the competition between fluorescence and photoinduced electron transfer (PET) with chemical species. These can monitor chemical species within living cells. Similar sensor systems are serving in hospitals performing blood diagnostics. Molecular based computation starts here