Director
Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Clemson University
lsaraf@clemson.edu
Education:
B.Sc. Physics, Mathematics, Electronics (1990)
M.Sc. Physics, (1992)
Ph.D. Applied Physics (Materials), (1999)
Lax Saraf is currently managing and directing the Electron Microscopy Laboratory located at Clemson University. Lax is a materials scientist/physicist in the area of solid state (condense matter) physics with over 20 years of extensive research and development experience in the universities, national lab and industry related to synthesis of advanced materials, oxides/metals/semiconductors thin films. His research on specialized ceramic (oxides) materials was carried out for ferroelectric, microwave, optical, ion transport and superconducting applications. Over the past 11 years, Lax has managed multi-user Electron Microscopy, Thin Film Deposition and Micro-fabrication facilities at the US Department of Energy’s national scientific user facilities at Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory located at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). Lax was appointed on user facility manager’s council to advice new lab safety implementation, user interactions and communicate strategy changes to managers.
Research Expertise: Electron Microscopy, Fundamentals of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, Analysis of Li-ion battery cathodes using electron microscopy, Semiconductor material development for Photovoltaics and Solar Cells, Application of Micro/nano-fabrication technology, Nanoscale interface effects in oxides & transport properties, Utilization of microscopic analysis techniques for advanced energy materials, High Frequency Microwave/Magnetic Materials, optical ceramics.
History: Ph.D. student at University of Pune (and also partially at University of Maryland), Visiting researcher -Corning Applied Technologies, Woburn, MA, 1997-1998. Post-doctoral Scientist at Department of Physics and Department of Materials Science at the University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 1999-2001. Research Scientist at PNNL, 2002-2003, Senior Research Scientist at PNNL, 2003-2012.
Awards: R&D 100 Award, (top 100 innovations in the world) for the development of Graphene Nanostructures for Li-ion Batteries, 2012, Recognition: Graduate Students Mentorship - Summer Research Institute, 2004-2007, Exceptional Career Performance Award, 2006, Recognition: Dept. of Homeland Security mentor Fellowships, 2005 & 2006, Manager of the Year Award - EMSL, 2005, Recognition: Student Mentorship - Richland (WA) School District, 2004-2008, Outstanding Performance Award – EMSL, 2004, Nominated: PNNL Lab Director's Award for outstanding contribution in S&E education
Reviewer: Several scientific articles reviewed for Journal of Electrochemical Society, Physical Review, American Vacuum Society, Materials research society, DOE Journal of Undergraduate Research and Journal of Applied Physics, Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids, J. Vacuum Science and Tech.
Memberships: Materials Research Society (MRS). Microanalysis Society
Publications: Author/co-author of over 125 scientific journals, invention reports and book chapters.
Professional Activities: Several national and international conference presentations as a speaker. Lecturer, (teaching) classes as a part of PNNL/Univ. of Washington/ Washington State Univ. nanomaterials synthesis and characterization courses. Supervised graduate students and junior faculty.