In this interview, Professor Islam shares his journey in advancing sustainable energy research, championing science communication through engaging talks and record-breaking public experiments.
Saiful is next to the voltaic pile (first electrical battery) that Alessandro Volta presented to Michael Faraday in 1814. [credit: The Royal Institution/Paul Wilkinson]
About Saiful Islam
Professor Saiful Islam MAE is the Statutory Chair in Materials Modelling at the University of Oxford. His research focuses on new energy materials, particularly lithium-ion batteries and perovskite solar cells. Professor Islam has received numerous accolades for his research, including the Royal Society Hughes Medal, the American Chemical Society Storch Award, and the Institute of Materials’ Robert Perrin Award. He also serves as Principal Investigator of the Faraday Institution’s CATMAT project, which explores advanced lithium-ion cathode materials.
Alongside his research, Professor Islam is known for his extensive outreach and science communication efforts. He presented the prestigious BBC Royal Institution Christmas Lectures in 2016 (on energy) and holds a Guinness World Record for the highest voltage lemon battery. He has delivered talks to school students and the general public, and participated in popular events like Professor Brian Cox & Robin Ince’s Compendium of Reason at the Royal Albert Hall.
Saiful is a Patron of Humanists UK, and when not exploring energy materials, he enjoys family breaks (as a dad of two), films and indie music.
Read the interview
You’ve been actively involved in numerous outreach activities. What was it like doing the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures and how did you get a Guinness World Record?
“It was a huge honour to present the 2016 Royal Institution Christmas Lectures on BBC TV entitled Supercharged: Fuelling the Future, which received more than 3.8 million viewers. The energy theme was chosen for this 80th TV anniversary year in honour of Michael Faraday. It was a real privilege to be considered for the same role as some of the scientists I had grown up reading about and watching on television such as David Attenborough, Richard Dawkins and Carl Sagan.
One of my highlights was getting a Guinness World Record for the highest voltage (1200 V) from a lemon battery. Rather than using a single lemon with copper and zinc electrodes to show how a battery works, we used more than 1,000 lemons. In 2021, the Royal Society of Chemistry invited me to lead an outreach video in regaining the world record for the highest voltage (2,403 V) from a lemon battery using around 3,000 lemons.”
Saiful holding the Guinness World Records certificate for the lemon battery world record
What continues to fascinate you about your research on materials for clean energy? What are your research methods and philosophy?
“Low carbon energy is one of the most urgent challenges of our time in tackling climate change. The next generation of green energy technologies depends on new materials and greater understanding. Indeed, materials science lies at the heart of advances that have already been made in the energy field; an excellent example being the rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has which has helped power the revolution in portable electronics.
Not all chemists wear lab coats. My research group uses powerful atomic-scale modelling techniques to help design new lithium battery materials for electric vehicles (EVs) and a new type of solar cell compound called perovskite. So, when people ask me what I do, I sometimes say ‘I model!’ My research philosophy is to gain an underpinning understanding of how energy materials behave on the atomic level through computer modelling in collaboration with experimental studies to advance the development of new materials for EV batteries and solar cells.”
Schematic of a perovskite material for solar cell devicesModelling of ion diffusion paths in a lithium battery material
Tell us about your general science outreach talks for school children. Is it essential that all children receive a good science education?
“I have enjoyed giving lectures on materials for green energy (using 3D glasses) to more than 5,000 students from a wide range of schools. The 3D images of crystal structures help to show that chemistry can reveal the intricacy and beauty of matter at the atomic level, which can be as visually aesthetic as the arts.
Not all children need to study science at a high level, but it’s important that all children receive a good science education to understand how science works. In doing so, they can find out about the world and universe through rational investigation and evidence, and that science can be full of beauty and exciting discovery.
Modern civilisation has been largely built on science working. Literary and artistic education are also crucial. Indeed, science and art often share a similar spirit of wonder.”
You served on the Diversity Committee of the Royal Society and you’re a Patron of Humanists UK. How do you view inclusivity in science and what is a humanist approach?
“We clearly need urgent action and ambition at all levels (society, political, economic, R&D) to tackle major global issues such as climate change. Hence, it’s important to make science more accessible and inclusive for people from a rich diversity of backgrounds.
To me, a humanist approach to life is rational, positive and optimistic, where you can find out more about the world and universe around us through scientific investigation and observation, without needing to follow one particular supernatural deity.“
Published 9th January 2025. For more information contact AECardiffHub@cardiff.ac.uk
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