Student Details

Supervisors: 

Prof. Indrajit Chakraborty (IIT Bombay), Prof. Akshat Tanksale (Monash University), and Prof. Murali Sastry (Monash University)

Short Bio and Project Details:

Vikrant Saha embarked on his PhD odyssey with the IITB-Monash Research Academy in July 2024. His research project titled “Photo catalytic degradation of emerging contaminants in water using a plasmon-based approach” is jointly supervised by Prof. Indrajit Chakraborty (Environmental Science & Engineering Department, IIT Bombay), Prof. Akshat Tanksale (Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University), and Prof. Murali Sastry (Materials Science & Engineering, Monash University). The project is focused on the design and synthesis of a novel plasmonic metal-based photocatalyst for the degradation of extremely persistent Per- and polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) contaminants in water. PFAS are called “Forever Chemicals” due to the presence of large number of highly stable C-F bonds, which make them immune to natural degradation. Nanoparticles of plasmonic metals (Ag, Au, Cu) exhibit excellent optical and catalytic properties under visible light illumination due to their unique localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect. Photocatalytic degradation using finely tailored plasmonic metal-based photocatalysts offers a viable strategy for PFAS degradation.

Vikrant’s academic background constitutes a BTech in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Biotechnology from IIT Roorkee and an MTech in Chemical Engineering with specialisation in Materials Science and Technology from IIT Guwahati. He has a strong inclination towards interdisciplinary research that can make a positive impact towards the health of people and the planet. He thrives in experimental research where he gets to fabricate new materials, understand their properties and behaviour using various characterisation techniques and utilise them in solving real-world problems. To further expand his theoretical knowledge of materials, he has been developing proficiency in computational tools, such as Density Functional Theory (DFT).

Away from the lab, Vikrant is an avid quizzing enthusiast with a curious intellect. He recharges by exploring unfamiliar places and savouring new cuisines. His favourite pastimes include listening to music, reading novels and playing badminton.

If you are currently working in the field or are interested in exploring it further, you can connect with Vikrant on linkedIn