By Ts. ChM Dr. Kumuthini Chandrasekaram
When we think about university research, we often imagine laboratories filled with sophisticated instruments, researchers in white coats, complex scientific terminology and findings published in academic journals. But research should not end when the experiment ends. The true value of research emerges when knowledge moves beyond the laboratory and begins to address problems faced by society, be it our homes, workplaces, schools, communities or industries. This is what it means to bring university research closer to our homes.
A good example is the development and field application of NANOGARD SC202 Premium (NANOGARD), a self-cleaning coating developed through research at the Universiti Malaya Power Energy Dedicated Advanced Centre (UMPEDAC). The technology was developed to address the issue of dust and dirt accumulation on solar panels, which reduces their ability to harvest solar energy. At first glance, this may appear to be a highly specialised engineering or materials science problem. In truth, it is connected to something becoming increasingly familiar to many Malaysians, solar energy.
Over the past decade, solar energy has steadily found its way into Malaysian industries and, more recently, into our homes. With electricity bills rising like the tide and heatwaves becoming increasingly difficult to ignore, the demand for cleaner and more sustainable energy has continued to grow. What was once viewed as an alternative source of power is now becoming an increasingly visible part of everyday Malaysian life. As more Malaysian industries and households turn to solar energy, the focus is often placed on installation costs and energy generation, while the long-term maintenance and performance of solar panels receive less attention. Exposure to Malaysia’s hot, humid and dusty environment can lead to the accumulation of contaminants on the panel surfaces, potentially reducing the amount of sunlight reaching the solar cells and affecting energy harvesting. Hence, there is a growing need not only to improve the technology itself, but also to ensure that university research addressing these challenges can move from the laboratory to society.
Malaysia has strong research capabilities within its universities, but the impact of research is greatest when scientific discoveries can move beyond laboratories and into real-world applications. Technologies developed through university research may remain largely invisible to the public unless there are effective pathways connecting researchers with industry, communities and end users.
The NANOGARD project illustrates both the opportunity and the challenge, where the self-cleaning coating developed at Universiti Malaya was transferred from laboratory preparation to an operational solar farm. NANOGARD uses organic-based polymer and nano-calcium carbonate technology to create a water-repellent surface. The objective is to reduce the adhesion and accumulation of dust and other contaminants on the panel glass. In scientific jargon, the process is described as surface chemistry and materials science. In relatable everyday terms, it is a solution that helps make the surface easier to keep clean so that the solar panel can continue doing its job.
Perhaps the most powerful part of the NANOGARD story is the physical journey of the technology from laboratory bottles to solar farms. The coating was synthesised at the UMPEDAC Material Science Laboratory at Universiti Malaya and prepared in one-litre bottles for transportation to the field. It was subsequently applied using an agricultural drone rather than relying entirely on conventional manual coating methods. The drone-based approach therefore represents not only a technological innovation but also an adoption of the research solution into an operational solar environment. In June 2026, NANOGARD was successfully applied to a 50 kWp solar farm at UNITEN, registering a 20% increase in the total energy output.
A common question among the public would be, “Why should the public care about a coating developed for solar panels?”
The reality is that research often reaches our homes indirectly before we realise it. It has been for years, and it will continue to be; it’s just that we never realised it. From our toothpaste to our latest gadget, everything took form thanks to research. This is where the phrase university research becomes much more meaningful. Research is not simply about producing papers, rather it encompasses producing knowledge that can eventually improve how we live.
NANOGARD, in a nutshell, contributes to better-performing solar panels which in turn generates better output of renewable energy. A coating that reduces cleaning requirements not only increases energy outputs and the lifespan of solar panels but also reduces water and labour consumption.
A research project’s impact begins when its relevance becomes viable. The NANOGARD experience demonstrates three important stages of research impact. First, there is material innovation on the development of a self-cleaning coating. Second, there is process innovation through the development of a feasible method using a drone-assisted approach for applying the coating over larger panel surfaces. And thirdly, there is real-world validation on real-time testing in an operational environment. Together, these stages demonstrate how research can move from an idea to a technology and then towards potential adoption. This is the kind of research journey that deserves to be shared with the public.
Universities are sometimes perceived as distant institutions, where academics teach students and researchers conduct experiments, and fiddle within the realm of science. That is not true, at least, not anymore. Universities are also problem-solving ecosystems. Inside our laboratories are researchers working on materials that can improve energy technologies, analytical methods that can detect pollutants, biomaterials that can support healthcare and food applications, digital technologies that can strengthen communities, and countless other innovations. The challenge is to create stronger pathways connecting these discoveries with society.
A challenge UMPEDAC researchers took up and have been diligently working with over the years. Ts. Dr. Vengadaesvaran V. Balakrishnan (Project Leader, Senior Research Officer, UMPEDAC) has been spearheading the project since its early conception with the late Prof. Ir. Dr. Nasrudin bin Abd Rahim (Founder & Former Executive Director, UMPEDAC) and UMPEDAC postgraduates’ scholars. The vision they shared is that great research does not end at the laboratory bench; it begins its journey into the real world. Foraying into their journey from the research bench to the real-world applications.
