Single Crystal Diamond, Thin Film, and CVD Consultant

Technical Consultant #2031

Development of gem quality single crystal diamonds.
Create up to 20*20 mm single crystal diamond samples.
Installation of new CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) machines and qualified the tool and process.
CVD, PVD systems, characterization techniques like SEM, EDS, AFM, Raman, XRD, electrical resistivity and capacitance measurements, etching, optical, infra-red spectroscopy tools, mass and emission spectrometer techniques.
Laboratory set-up consisting characterization tools and methods for the processing of diamond samples.
Swagelok, VCR connections and fittings, different types of vacuum pumps, and other high vacuum system issues.
Raman spectroscopy study of the influence of processing conditions.
Low surface temperature synthesis and characterization of thin films.
Microstructural and biological properties of nanocrystalline coatings.

Independent Consultant, Research Scientist, 2012 - Present

Responsible for development of gem quality single crystal diamond.
Demonstrated capability to create up to 20*20 mm single crystal diamond samples.
Oversaw the installation of new CVD machines and qualified the tool and process.
Set-up the lab with characterization tools and methods for the processing of diamond samples.
Involved in research and development for improvement in reactor design.
Ensured repeatability in the process to produce single crystal diamond samples.
Development of thin film products; highly insulating, hard, wear-resistant, and corrosion-resistant diamond- like-carbon coatings on inner diameter surfaces of stainless steel and carbon steel parts of varying dimensions.

JDS Uniphase Corporation, Santa Rosa, CA Process Development Engineer, 2011 - 2012

Responsible for process development of thin film oxides and nitrides using pulsed DC reactive magnetron sputtering.
Leading the research and development of new oxide materials for optical filter applications in the ultraviolet wavelength range.
Involved in writing project plans, reviews and reports.

Sub-One Technologies, Inc., Pleasanton, CA, Sr. Application Engineer, 2009 - 2011

Responsible for new products and process development. Managed operation of several CVD process tools.
Involved in significant research and development to obtain erosion resistant and high growth rate coatings
Ensured that all the machines were operating with research and development or production parts.

Technology Development Engineer, 2008 - 2009

Responsible for operation and maintenance of a pulsed DC plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition machine.
Developed processes to grow highly insulating, hard, wear-resistant, and corrosion-resistant diamond- like-carbon coatings on inner diameter surfaces of stainless steel and carbon steel parts of varying dimensions.
Developed process recipes for the coatings depending on customer specifications.
Managed several projects to completion in a timely manner along with demo reports.

Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI, Post-Doctoral Research Associate, 2006 - 2008

Fraunhofer U.S.A, Center for Coatings and Laser Applications, East Lansing, MI

Executed diamond system-1 Microwave Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (MPECVD) machine up and running - Involved in troubleshooting and diagnostics.
Developed a process to grow highly conducting boron-doped diamond films with good adhesion on silicon, silicon dioxide, titanium, niobium and tungsten substrates for electrochemical electrode applications.
Worked on meeting customer specifications during coating development.
Optimized deposition conditions to obtain high growth rate defect-free boron-doped single crystal diamond at high pressure and high temperature.
Depositing heteroepitaxial layers of (100) and (111) diamond on platinum/MgO and platinum/sapphire.

Research Experience

University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 2000 - 2005

Materials Science Graduate Research Assistant

Deposition of diamond thin films by MPECVD technique and optimized their properties.
Designed set of experiments to grow smooth nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films.
Accomplished high growth rate of these films, good quality n-type and p-type doped diamond.
Fabricated capacitors based on metal-insulator-metal structures and obtained high resistivity NCD films to operate beyond 500 ℃.
Developed electrical conduction mechanisms in undoped microcrystalline, nanocrystalline and nitrogen-doped diamond.
Upgraded the CVD system with a liquid precursor delivery line for liquid precursors like 2, 4, 6 triethyl borazine and N, N, N, trimethyl borazine.
Installed a Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (QMS) and Optical Emission Spectrometer (OES) to monitor the in-situ plasma diagnostics. Implemented this by building special stage and supports.
Built high vacuum connections and operated the PECVD system.
Maintained equipment and trouble shoot problems during breakdown.
Kept inventory of parts and made purchase orders.

Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI, Research Assistant, 1998 - 2000

Prepared stoichiometric CuIn1-xGaxSe2 thin films that are typically used for solar cell applications by Flash Evaporation technique.
Determined the optical parameters and band gap of the films.
Modified the thermal Evaporation system setup to obtain desired coating properties.

Credentials

Academic and Professional Affiliations

Awards

Publications and Patents

Author and Co-Author of numerous publications in peer reviewed journals and conferences.
2 patents.

Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
M.S. Physics, Central Michigan University, Mt .Pleasant, MI
M.Sc. Physics, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, India
B.Sc. Physics, University of Madras, Madras, India