Assist. Prof. Dr. Sethuramachandran Thanikaikarasan Saveetha | Science & Humanities | Distinguished Scientist Award

Associate Professor at School of Engineering/SIMATS University (Deemed), India.

Dr. Sethuramachandran Thanikaikarasan is a distinguished academic and researcher in the field of Physics and Environmental Biotechnology, currently serving as an Associate Professor at Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha University. With a strong foundation in material science and solar energy research, he has led and contributed to several government-funded projects in advanced thin film technologies and photoelectrochemical systems. A passionate educator, he has mentored numerous postgraduate and doctoral scholars and holds several awards for academic excellence and innovation. His interdisciplinary expertise spans semiconductors, nanotechnology, photocatalysis, and sustainable energy systems.

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🎓 Education 

• • Ph.D. in Physics (Specialization in Thin Films and Photoelectrochemical Solar Cells)

  • M.Phil. in Physics

  • M.Sc. in Physics

  • B.Sc. in Physics

💼 Experience 

Dr. Sethuramachandran Thanikaikarasan has over 15 years of rich academic experience across teaching, research, and academic leadership. His career began as an Assistant Professor at PSN College of Engineering & Technology (2010–2016). He briefly served as HoD and Assistant Professor at Shanmuganathan Engineering College (Jan–Apr 2017). He then joined Saveetha School of Engineering under Saveetha University, where he steadily progressed from Senior Grade Assistant Professor (2017–2021) to Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Physical Sciences (2022 onwards), and currently serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Biotechnology (from Dec 2024).
He has also guided several Ph.D., M.Phil., and M.Sc. students, emphasizing his role in nurturing future researchers and academic leaders.

🔬 Research Interests

• Electrodeposition and Electrochemical Synthesis

• Thin Films and Nanomaterials

• Photoelectrochemical and Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

• II-VI and II-III-V Semiconductors

• Chalcogenide and Magnetic Materials

• Transparent Conducting Oxides (TCO)

• Photocatalysis and Green Energy Technologies

📊 Author Metrics :

• Ph.D. Students Guided (Completed): 3

• Ph.D. Students (Ongoing): 4

• M.Phil. Students Guided: 4

• M.Sc. Students Guided: 6+

• R&D Projects Completed: 3 major projects

  • CSIR-HRDG Project on FeSe and CdSe thin films

  • BRNS-DAE Projects on CuX thin films and DSSCs, with funding exceeding ₹49 lakhs

• Publications & Indexing: Widely published in reputed journals and conferences (detailed metrics such as h-index, citations, etc., can be added if available)

• Scientific Index Ranking: Included in World Scientist and University Rankings – Natural Sciences/Physics (Ad Scientific Index ID: 4326683)

🏆 Awards & Recognition

• Senior Research Fellow, CSIR, 2008

• Young Scientist Award, Venus International Foundation, 2016

• Award of Excellence in Research, IASTE, 2018

• Innovative Research & Dedicated Academician Award, Malaysia, 2019

• Lifetime Achievement Award, IOSRD, 2019

• Best Faculty Award, Saveetha University

• Best Researcher Award, AAAEAM, 2022

• Certificate of Excellence in Research, EET CRS, 2022

• Academic Brilliance Award for Best Faculty, EET CRS, 2022

• Award for Excellence & Innovative Research in Physics, IIERD, 2024

Top Noted Publications:

• Photocatalytic degradation efficiency of Rhodamine-B for CuO/CdO nanosheets attained through simple co-precipitation method
  Authors: E. Arulkumar, S. S. Shree, S. Thanikaikarasan
  Journal: Results in Chemistry, Volume 6, Article 101169
  Year: 2023
  Citations: 30
  Highlights: Demonstrates the synthesis of CuO/CdO nanosheets using a simple co-precipitation method with high photocatalytic degradation efficiency of Rhodamine-B dye.

• Electrochemical growth and characterization of iron doped cadmium sulfide thin films
  Authors: S. Thanikaikarasan, T. Mahalingam, M. Raja, S. Velumani
  Journal: Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing, Volume 37, Pages 215–222
  Year: 2015
  Citations: 30
  Highlights: Reports the electrodeposition and properties of Fe-doped CdS thin films, relevant for optoelectronic and solar cell applications.

• Study on electrodeposited CdSeₓTe₁−ₓ semiconducting thin films
  Authors: A. Kathalingam, M. R. Kim, Y. S. Chae, J. K. Rhee, S. Thanikaikarasan, et al.
  Journal: Journal of Alloys and Compounds, Volume 505, Issue 2, Pages 758–761
  Year: 2010
  Citations: 30
  Highlights: Investigates the electrodeposition and tuning of optical and structural properties in CdSeTe alloy thin films.

• Structure, morphology, composition, optical properties and catalytic activity of nanomaterials CuO, NiO, CuO/NiO using methylene blue
  Authors: E. Arulkumar, S. Thanikaikarasan
  Journal: Optik, Volume 302, Article 171685
  Year: 2024
  Citations: 29
  Highlights: Explores structural and optical properties along with photocatalytic activity of CuO/NiO nanocomposites using methylene blue degradation.

• Structure, morphology, composition, optical properties of CuO/NiO nanocomposite for electrochemical energy storage devices
  Authors: E. Arulkumar, S. S. Shree, S. Thanikaikarasan
  Journal: Results in Chemistry, Volume 6, Article 101087
  Year: 2023
  Citations: 27
  Highlights: Highlights the applicability of CuO/NiO nanocomposites for energy storage, including electrochemical and structural assessments.

Conclusion:

Dr. Sethuramachandran Thanikaikarasan is a highly meritorious candidate for the Research for Distinguished Scientist Award under the Science & Humanities domain. His track record of interdisciplinary research, national-level project execution, student mentorship, and recognized innovation in nanomaterials and solar energy systems fully align with the spirit and criteria of this prestigious award.