Curriculum Vitae
Prabakaran Shankar, PhD
Materials Science and Nanotechnology Researcher · Chungnam National University
Contact
hello@prabakaranshankar.com · WhatsApp
India | South Korea
Profile Links
Professional Summary
Dr. Prabakaran Shankar, PhD, is a materials scientist, developer, and science communicator focused on making complex research and technology more accessible.
His research covers functional nanomaterials, thin films, polymeric biomaterials, electrospun fibers, gas sensors, biosensors, surface-enhanced Raman scattering, zinc oxide nanostructures, and flexible electronics.
He combines research communication, technical writing, content strategy, SEO, and web development through his work with NViews Media Private Limited.
Research Impact
47 peer-reviewed publications (2012–2026), including 14 in Q1 journals, with 14 as first or corresponding author.
- Peer-reviewed publications
- 47
- First or corresponding author
- 14
- Q1-journal publications
- 14
- Years active
- 2012–2026
- Distinct journals
- 33
- Citations
- 2,036
- h-index
- 20
- Citations
- 1,988
- h-index
- 21
- Citations
- 3,123
- h-index
- 22
- i10-index
- 32
Citation data as of August 2026.
Education
Ph.D. Nanotechnology — SASTRA University (2016)
Thesis: Zinc Oxide Nanosphere, Nanorod, Nanowire as Ethanol Sensors – Role of Grain Features
Advisor: Prof. John Bosco Balaguru Rayappan
M.Sc. Physics — Bharathidasan University (2010)
B.Sc. Physics — Bharathidasan University (2007)
Employment History
Researcher — Chungnam National University (2025-12-Present)
Laboratory research on functional nanomaterials, combining electrospun fiber networks, chemical vapor deposition, and 3D-printing-supported fabrication.
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Employment type: Full-time
Workplace: Advanced Nano-Robotic Systems Lab (ANRS Lab) · South Korea
Responsibilities
- Design and run electrospinning experiments on fibrous nanomaterial networks, including crosslinking and post-treatment studies.
- Develop chemical vapor deposition (CVD) routes for nanostructured functional coatings.
- Use 3D-printed fixtures and components to support experimental fabrication and characterization setups.
Highlights
- Contributing to nano-robotic systems research at ANRS Lab through combined electrospinning, CVD, and 3D-printing-supported fabrication work.
Research Professor — Sungkyunkwan University (2020-09-2023-05)
Led gold-nanoparticle and multi-layer nanomaterial research for a grant-funded functional-textile program.
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Employment type: Full-time
Workplace: South Korea
Team Head: Prof. Jung Heon Lee
Responsibilities
- Led the NRF-funded 'Multi-Layer Functional Fabric Materials' program as principal investigator, directing gold-nanoparticle and ZnO-nanostructure synthesis on textile substrates.
- Directed the transition from citrate- and PVA-capped gold-nanoparticle synthesis to layered ZnO/MXene functional coatings.
- Coordinated biocompatibility and cell-proliferation testing (L929 fibroblasts) of gold-nanoparticle-coated textiles.
Highlights
- Principal investigator on a 3-year, USD 120,000 NRF grant (NRF-2020R1I1A1A01071084) on UV- and EM-shielding, skin-protective functional textiles.
- Directed synthesis and characterization of citrate- and PVA-capped gold nanoparticles for biocompatible textile coatings.
Post-Doctoral Fellow — Sungkyunkwan University (2018-04-2020-08)
Developed gold-nanoparticle and ZnO-nanostructure synthesis methods that later shaped a funded functional-textile program.
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Employment type: Full-time
Workplace: South Korea
Team Head: Prof. Jung Heon Lee
Responsibilities
- Synthesized and characterized gold nanoparticles and ZnO nanostructures under Prof. Jung Heon Lee.
- Developed surface-functionalization and deposition methods for nanomaterial-textile interfaces.
- Ran materials-characterization workflows (zeta potential, spectroscopy, microscopy) supporting the group's nanomaterial research.
Highlights
- Built the gold-nanoparticle synthesis and characterization foundation that became the basis of a subsequent NRF-funded functional-textile program.
Post-Doctoral Fellow — Tokai University (2016-10-2018-03)
Researched laser ablation in liquid as a chemical-free synthesis route for metal and metal-oxide nanostructures.
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Employment type: Full-time
Workplace: Hiratsuka, Japan
Advisor: Prof. Sergei A. Kulinich
Responsibilities
- Synthesized tin, tin-oxide, and ZnO-based nanostructures by pulsed-laser ablation in liquid.
- Investigated core-shell nanostructure formation, including ZnO@graphene-oxide, via sequential laser ablation.
- Characterized nanostructure morphology and composition to relate laser-ablation conditions to sensing performance.
Highlights
- Contributed to laser-ablation-in-liquid research producing ZnO, tin-oxide, and core-shell nanostructures later evaluated as gas sensors.
Doctoral Researcher — SASTRA University (2012-2016)
Doctoral research on zinc oxide gas-sensing thin films and nanostructures, from thin-film deposition through device-level sensing characterization.
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Employment type: Full-time
Workplace: India
Advisor: Prof. John Bosco Balaguru Rayappan
Responsibilities
- Deposited ZnO thin films by RF/DC magnetron sputtering and spray pyrolysis, and produced ZnO nanostructures by electrospinning.
- Studied how deposition and doping conditions shape crystallite size, morphology, and room-temperature gas-sensing response.
- Fabricated and tested chemiresistive gas sensors for ethanol and related analytes.
Highlights
- PhD thesis: “Zinc Oxide Nanosphere, Nanorod, Nanowire as Ethanol Sensors – Role of Grain Features” (SASTRA University, 2016).
- Identified the magnetron-sputtering racetrack effect as a source of position-dependent sensing response in nominally uniform ZnO thin films.
Founder, Science Communicator, Developer, and Materials Scientist — NViews Media Private Limited (2022-11-Present)
Research communication, technical writing, content strategy, SEO, and web development.
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Employment type: Founder / Full-time
Workplace: Research Communication and Digital Products · India
Responsibilities
- Develop research-focused digital products and information services.
- Translate technical and scientific subjects into accessible content.
- Build and maintain websites and digital systems for researchers and organizations.
Highlights
- Built services supporting research careers, document workflows, education, and scientific communication.
Grants
- Development of Multi-Layer Functional Fabric Materials for Ultraviolet and Electromagnetic Radiation Removal and Skin ProtectionPrincipal Investigator · National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) — Creative Challenge Research Base Program · Jun 2020 – May 2023 · USD 120,000Grant ID: NRF-2020R1I1A1A01071084
A three-year NRF-funded program to engineer multi-layer nanomaterial coatings on cotton textiles that combine UV and electromagnetic radiation filtering with a biocompatible, skin-protective microenvironment — layering ZnO nanostructures, MXene/silver nanomaterials, and functionalized gold nanoparticles onto a single fabric.
Skills
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Functional Nanomaterials
- Thin Films
- Thin-Film Sputtering (RF/DC Magnetron)
- Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)
- Polymeric Biomaterials
- Electrospinning
- Laser Ablation in Liquid
- Gold Nanoparticles
- Gas Sensors
- Biosensors
- SERS
- Zinc Oxide Nanostructures
- Flexible Electronics
- Scientific and Technical Writing
- Research Communication
- Content Strategy and SEO
- Astro and WordPress Development
Selected Projects & Portfolio
- Development of Multi-Layer Functional Fabric Materials for Ultraviolet and Electromagnetic Radiation Removal and Skin ProtectionPrincipal Investigator · National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) · Jun 2020 – May 2023
A three-year NRF-funded program to engineer multi-layer nanomaterial coatings on cotton textiles that combine UV and electromagnetic radiation filtering with a biocompatible, skin-protective microenvironment — layering ZnO nanostructures, MXene/silver nanomaterials, and functionalized gold nanoparticles onto a single fabric.
Publications
View all publications2026
2 publications2024
1 publication2022
2 publications2020
2 publications2019
4 publications- Shared first authorMolecular-Level Interactions between Engineered Materials and Cells
- Shared first authorRecent Advances in 2D Inorganic Nanomaterials for SERS Sensing
- The Effect of ζ-Potential and Hydrodynamic Size on Nanoparticle Interactions in Hydrogels
- Surface Sensitivity of Ultrasonically Treated Carbon Nanotube Network towards Ammonia
2018
7 publications- Corresponding authorNon-Mutually Exclusive Dual Role of Hexamethylenetetramine on the Growth of ZnO Nanostructures and Their Sensing Footprints
- Fluorine Doped ZnO Thin Film as Acetaldehyde Sensor
- Nano Ceria as Xylene Sensor: Role of Cerium Precursor
- PANI-CdO Nanocomposite Thin Films as a Room Temperature Methanol Sensor
- Role of Thermal Energy Sources in Chemical Solution Process to Synthesize V2O5 Nanostructures
- V2O5 Nanofibers: Potential Contestant for High Performance Xylene Sensor
- Fabrication of Electrochemical Biosensor with ZnO-PVA Nanocomposite Interface for the Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide
2017
6 publications- First authorRoom Temperature Ethanol Sensing Properties of ZnO Nanorods Prepared Using an Electrospinning Technique
- Corresponding authorRoom Temperature Ethanol Sensor Based on ZnO Prepared via Laser Ablation in Water
- First authorMonomer: Design of ZnO Nanostructures (Nanobush and Nanowire) and Their Room-Temperature Ethanol Vapor Sensing Signatures
- Nanostructures Prepared via Laser Ablation of Tin in Water
- Fabrication of PANI-ZnO Nanocomposite Thin Film for Room Temperature Methanol Sensor
- Non-Enzymatic Detection of Glucose in Fruits Using TiO2-Mn3O4 Hybrid Nano Interface
2016
5 publications- First authorRacetrack Effect on the Dissimilar Sensing Response of ZnO Thin Film: An Anisotropy of Isotropy
- Tuning Selectivity through Cobalt Doping in Spray Pyrolysis Deposited ZnO Thin Films
- Room Temperature Ammonia Sensing Properties of ZnO Thin Films Grown by Spray Pyrolysis: Effect of Mg Doping
- Nanostructured Cerium-Doped ZnO Thin Film: A Breath Sensor
- Substrate Temperature Effects on Room Temperature Sensing Properties of Nanostructured ZnO Thin Films
2015
6 publications- First authorElectrospun Tailored ZnO Nanostructures: Role of Chloride Ions
- Shared first authorGas Sensing Characteristics of Nanostructured ZnO Thin Film: Influence of Manganese Doping
- First authorGas Sensing Mechanism of Metal Oxides: The Role of Ambient Atmosphere, Type of Semiconductor and Gases: A Review
- Growth and Characterization of Spray Pyrolysis Deposited Copper Oxide Thin Films: Influence of Substrate and Annealing Temperatures
- Electronic Noses for Food Quality: A Review
- Thickness Dependent Room Temperature Sensing Properties of Spray Pyrolysis Deposited Nanostructured ZnO Thin Films
2014
9 publications- A Simple and Novel Room Temperature Ethanolamine ZnO Nanosensor
- Synthesis and Characterization of Sol-Gel Dip Coated Pure and Mn-Doped ZnO Thin Films
- Effect of Nickel Doping on Structural, Optical, Electrical and Ethanol Sensing Properties of Spray Deposited Nanostructured ZnO Thin Films
- Effect of Precursor Volume on Spray Pyrolysis Deposited Nanostructured ZnO Thin Films
- Sol-Gel Dip Coated Pure and Fe-Doped Nanostructured ZnO Thin Films
- Solvent Volume Driven ZnO Nanopetals Thin Films: Spray Pyrolysis
- Volatile Organic Compounds Sensing Performance of ZnO Thick Film
- Spray Pyrolysis Deposited ZnO Nanopebbles as Room Temperature Ammonia Sensor
- Modulation of ZnO Film Thickness and Formation of Water-Hyacinth Nanostructure
