JOHOR BAHRU, Aug 11 – A team of researchers from the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has achieved remarkable success by winning the Gold Award at the prestigious Innovation, Design & Research International Venture Creation 2025 (iDRIVE2025) competition, hosted by Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM). The winning project, titled BioShield Glass, was led by Dr. Nurhafizah Hasim together with her colleagues Dr. Nur Hidayah Ahmad, Siti Norfariza Farhana Mohd Razak, Nur Aniesha Fitrie Roseli, and Ku Nabil Afiq Ku Nor Azli – all dedicated researchers from UTM’s Department of Physics.
BioShield Glass is an innovative material designed to provide self-cleaning and antibacterial properties through the integration of zinc-strontium-lithium phosphate glass doped with chitosan and silver nanoparticles. This unique combination enhances surface hydrophilicity, prevents bacterial growth, and ensures longer-lasting, low-maintenance surfaces.
The project reflects UTM’s commitment to developing sustainable advanced materials that contribute directly to environmental protection, green technology, and the waste-to-wealth economy. By leveraging biopolymers and recyclable components, BioShield Glass aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
The Gold Award at iDRIVE2025 recognizes not only the technical novelty of BioShield Glass but also its potential real-world applications in industries such as construction, healthcare, and consumer products. Self-cleaning glass could play a vital role in reducing chemical usage, lowering maintenance costs, and improving hygiene in public spaces – ultimately benefiting both society and the environment.
In her remarks, Dr. Nurhafizah highlighted the significance of the recognition, stating that the award is a testament to the dedication, creativity, and collaboration of the team. She emphasized that BioShield Glass demonstrates how material physics can be translated into solutions that make everyday life more sustainable. She also expressed the team’s commitment to advancing the innovation further towards commercialization, building industrial partnerships, and delivering meaningful benefits to the community.
The success at iDRIVE2025 further strengthens UTM’s reputation as a leader in materials science and applied physics research. With a strong track record in innovation, UTM researchers are consistently pushing the boundaries of science to create technologies that address global challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, and environmental sustainability.
The iDRIVE2025 competition itself is recognized as a key platform that brings together innovators, researchers, and entrepreneurs from diverse fields to showcase transformative ideas, promote technology transfer, and foster collaboration. Winning a Gold Award at this event demonstrates the international competitiveness and innovative spirit of UTM researchers.
With this achievement, the BioShield Glass team is now focused on advancing their research towards prototyping and pilot testing. The team envisions applications in architectural glass, smart coatings, and biomedical devices, where the demand for sustainable, self-cleaning, and antimicrobial materials is rapidly increasing.
As UTM continues to nurture a culture of excellence and innovation, the Department of Physics remains committed to translating laboratory breakthroughs into impactful technologies that support Malaysia’s ambition to be a global hub for sustainable materials research and innovation.
By: Dr. Nurhafizah Hasim and Dr. Nur Hidayah Ahmad, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science