Shadeepa Karunarathne
UN SDGs:
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Research

Electrocatalysis and Sustainable Energy Storage

My research focuses on the development of advanced electrocatalytic materials for next-generation energy storage and conversion technologies. I specialize in lithium-air, lithium-metal, and lithium-ion batteries, with an emphasis on electrode material design, defect engineering, and electrochemical performance optimization. By integrating nanomaterials and tailored catalytic architectures, I aim to enhance the efficiency, stability, and sustainability of energy storage systems.

Carbon Nanomaterials and Functional Interfaces

Beyond battery technologies, I have a strong interest in carbon nanomaterials and their applications in electrochemical systems. My research spans the synthesis, functionalization, and structural tuning of graphene-based and transition metal oxide, phosphide, and heterogeneous materials for energy applications. I have worked extensively on 2D material-based electrodes, defect-engineered catalysts, and hybrid nanostructures to optimize reaction kinetics in energy storage and conversion devices.

Currently, I am expanding my research to explore molten salt batteries, advanced redox chemistries, and novel recycling strategies for spent lithium-ion batteries to enable a circular economy in energy storage.

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person's work contributes towards the following SDGs:

Clean water and sanitation

"Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all"

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Affordable and clean energy

"Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all"

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Industry, innovation and infrastructure

"Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation"

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Responsible consumption and production

"Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns"

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Journal Articles

  • Ye, J., Wei, S., Karunarathne, S., Fu, H., Xie, K., Bassyouni, M., Mahmoud, E.R.I., Kamali, A.R., Abdelkader, A.M., 2026. Mechanistic insights into high-rate Li/Na storage: natural pyrite-derived FeS2/graphene anodes with intercalation-pseudocapacitive behaviour. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 703.
  • Karunarathne, S., Pérez, G.E., Wijesinghe, W.P.S.L., Orange, F., Kannangara, Y.Y., Ratwani, C.R., Sandaruwan, C., Mija, A., Kamali, A.R., Abdelkader, A.M., 2025. Optimizing discharge product morphology with hetero-nanostructured NiCoP/NiCo2O4 for enhanced sustainability in Li-O2 battery performance. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 13 (16), 11344-11357.
  • Karunarathne, S., Sandaruwan, C., Kannangara, Y.Y., Demko, D., Orange, F., Mija, A., Kamai, A.R., Abdelkader, A.M., 2025. Triphase Heterogeneous Electrocatalysts of Ni and Co for High-Performing Li-O2 Batteries. Ecomat, 7 (3).
  • Karunarathna, R., Ranasinghe Arachchige, H., Karunarathne, S., Wijesinghe, W.P.S.L., Sandaruwan, C., Mantilaka, M.M.M.P.G., Kannangara, Y.Y., Abdelkader, A.M., 2025. Intercalating Graphite-Based Na-Ion Battery Anodes with Integrated Magnetite. Small Science, 5 (2).
  • Guimarey, M.J.G., Karunarathne, S., Ratwani, C.R., Viesca, J.L., Battez, A.H., Abdelkader, A.M., 2024. 2D mica as a new additive for nanolubricants with high tribological performance. Tribology International, 200.
  • Karalasingam, A., Karunarathne, S., Wijesinghe, W.P.S.L., Sameera, S.A.L., De Silva, M.G.S., Amaratunga, G.A., 2024. Influence of graphene nanoplatelets on the thermal conductivity of heat transfer oils based on the developed hotwire method. Physica Scripta, 99 (9).
  • Karunarathne, S., Malaarachchi, C.K., Abdelkader, A.M., Kamali, A.R., 2024. Advances in bifunctional electrocatalysts towards high-performing Li-air batteries. Journal of Power Sources, 607.
  • Kannangara, Y.Y., Karunarathne, S., Wijesinghe, W.P.S.L., Sandaruwan, C., Ratwani, C.R., Kamali, A.R., Abdelkader, A.M., 2024. The electrochemical performance of various NiCo2O4 nanostructures in hybrid supercapacitors: Investigating the impact of crystalline defects. Journal of Energy Storage, 84.
  • Karunarathne, S., Kannangara, Y.Y., Ratwani, C.R., Sandaruwan, C., Wijesinghe, W.P.S.L., Kamali, A.R., Abdelkader, A.M., 2024. Stoichiometrically optimized eg orbital occupancy of Ni-Co oxide catalysts for Li-air batteries. Nanoscale, 16 (16), 7937-7950.
  • Ratwani, C.R., Karunarathne, S., Kamali, A.R., Abdelkader, A.M., 2024. Transforming Nature’s Bath Sponge into Stacking Faults-Enhanced Ag Nanorings-Decorated Catalyst for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 16 (5), 5847-5856.
  • Attard, G.A., Bruce, P.G., Calvo, E.J., Chen, Y., Curtiss, L.A., Dewar, D., Ellison, J.H.J., Fernández-Vidal, J., Freunberger, S.A., Gao, X., Grey, C.P., Hardwick, L.J., Horwitz, G., Janek, J., Johnson, L.R., Jónsson, E., Karunarathne, S., Matsuda, S., Menkin, S., Mondal, S., Nakanishi, S., Ortiz-Vitoriano, N., Peng, Z., Rivera, J.P., Temprano, I., Uosaki, K., Wachsman, E.D., Wu, Y., Ye, S., 2024. Mechanism of ORR and OER in non-aqueous electrolytes: general discussion. Faraday Discuss, 248 (0), 210-249.
  • Madhuwantha, M.D., Galagedara, H., Kannangara, Y.Y., Karunarathne, S., Mantilaka, M.M.M.G.P.G., Perera, H.C.S., Mahadeva, R., Arya, S., Rajapakse, R.M.G., Wijesinghe, W.P.S.L., 2023. Low-cost ZnO incorporated carbonized nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) as a relative humidity monitoring sensor. MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING B-ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL SOLID-STATE MATERIALS, 298.
  • Kong, L., Li, Z., Zhu, W., Ratwani, C.R., Fernando, N., Karunarathne, S., Abdelkader, A.M., Kamali, A.R., Shi, Z., 2023. Sustainable regeneration of high-performance LiCoO2 from completely failed lithium-ion batteries. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 640, 1080-1088.
  • Sameera, S.A.L., Edirisinghe, N.P., Kannangara, Y.Y., Karunarathne, S., Koswattage, K.R., Perera, H.C.S., Das, G., Mantilaka, M.M.M.G.P.G., Wijesinghe, W.P.S.L., 2023. Enhanced Wide Spectrum Photocatalytic Activity by in-Situ Magnetite-Graphite Nanoplatelets Heterostructure. IEEE Access, 11, 68912-68924.
  • Karunarathne, T.S.E.F., Sandaruwan, C., Wijesinghe, W.P.S.L., Karalasignham, A., Abdelkader, A.M., Amaratunga, G.A.J., de Silva, S.G.M., 2022. Development of universal fabric dyeing and adhesion through RF glow discharge plasma treatment. Vacuum, 204.
  • Karunarathne, T.S.E.F., Wijesinghe, W.P.S.L., Rathuwadu, N.P.W., Karalasingam, A., Manoharan, N., Sameera, S.A.L., Sandaruwan, C., Amaratunga, G.A., de Silva, S.G.M., 2020. Fabrication and Characterization of Partially Conjugated Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) Based Resistive Humidity Sensor. Sensors and Actuators A Physical, 314.
  • Wijesinghe, W.P.S.L., Mantilaka, M.M.M.G.P.G., Karunarathne, T.S.E.F., Rajapakse, R.M.G., 2019. Synthesis of a hydroxyapatite/poly(methyl methacrylate) nanocomposite using dolomite. Nanoscale Advances, 1 (1), 86-88.
  • Sandaruwan, C., Herath, H.M.P.C.K., Karunarathne, T.S.E.F., Ratnayake, S.P., Amaratunga, G.A.J., Dissanayake, D.P., 2018. Polyaniline/palladium nanohybrids for moisture and hydrogen detection. Chemistry Central Journal, 12 (1).

Theses

Grants

  • Conversion of carbon-based polymers into conductive carbon nanomaterials for electronic applications (National Research Council, Sri Lanka, 01 Sep 2020). Completed

Journal Reviewing/Refereeing

  • Energy Storage Materials, Anonymous peer review
  • Materials Science & Engineering B: Solid-State Materials for Advanced Technology, Anonymous peer review

Memberships

  • Royal Society of Chemistry, Member (2023-),
The data on this page was last updated at 05:00 on February 17, 2026.