Keith Ray Email & Phone Number

LLNL is a Department of Energy (DOE) Laboratory. Predicted and characterized interfacial compound formation for TlBr semiconductor radiation detectors to improve service life. Developed an electron spin model to understand magnetic flux noise in superconducting qubits. Determined the microscopic sources of electric field noise that degrade trapped ion qubit performance. Identified hydrogen storage material intermediate phases by simulating x-ray adsorption spectra and calculated thermodynamic properties. Worked with other theorists as well as experimentalists in a variety of research teams. Contributed to nine scientific papers to fulfill critical project milestones, led five of those. Developed Monte Carlo simulation, electrostatics, and micromagnetics software. Contributed to several grant proposals. Presented research at eight conferences and established new collaborations. Received a LLNL Physical and Life Sciences Best Poster Award. Mentored summer research students.

Berkeley, Ca

Asta research group studies the properties of materials for energy applications, alloys, and materials interfaces. Performed research as part of an Energy Frontiers Research Center (EFRC) on Molecularly Engineered Energy Materials (MEEM), under the DOE. Calculated the gas separation properties of a metal organic framework and led the resulting publication. Determined the effect of van der Waals forces on the diffusivity of acetonitrile electrolytes for electrochemical energy storage and presented the work at a national conference. Calculated the band gap of MoO3 using many-body perturbation theory.

Berkeley, Ca

Calculated the binding energy of CO2 molecules to zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIF) using van der Waals corrected density functional theory. Determined the effect that ZIF topology and chemical functionalization have on CO2 and methane binding. Examined the structural and vibrational properties of the MoO3 battery material, using electronic structure calculations. Parameterized interatomic potentials with first principles calculations. Contributed to five publications, led two of those, and presented seven times at domestic and international conferences. Maintained two scientific computing clusters.

Zettl research group studies nanomaterials, including graphene and carbon nanotubes. Performed electron beam lithography and photolithography on nanotube devices. Fabricated a superconducting quantum interference device using nanotube templated weak link Josephson junctions and measured the device using a helium-3 cryostat. Determined the break down temperature of carbon nanotubes in vacuum and published an article in Physical Review Letters as second author. Performed characterization of nanotube devices using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, transport measurements, and energy-dispersion x-ray spectroscopy. Served as research group safety officer.

Berkeley, Ca

Performed arc and chemical vapor deposition synthesis of nanotubes. Performed in-situ transmission electron microscope transport measurements on nanotube devices. Utilized electron beam and thermal evaporators to deposit metals.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Physics

degree conferred on May 17, 2013

Master Of Arts (M.A.), Physics

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Physics And Mathematics, With A Minor In Electrical Engineering And Computer Science