Steven Crane, Ph.D., P.E.

Dr. Crane’s areas of expertise include functional oxides, magnetic materials, composite ceramics, thin film structures, and laser-material interactions. He is also knowledgeable in the deposition and processing techniques required for electronic component fabrication, including ceramic powder processing, tape casting, rf- and dc-sputtering, plasma dynamics, ion implantation and milling, chemical vapor deposition, rapid thermal processing, chemical mechanical polishing, photolithography, and wet and dry etching processes. He also has a strong background in semiconductors, electrical characterization, and nanotechnology, in addition to an extensive knowledge of general materials science, including ceramics, metals, polymers, and glasses.

Dr. Crane has experience in the gas pipeline industry, including a year-long effort to assist a large gas utility company with the implementation of a plan to validate the Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure (MAOP) for its gas transmission lines. Tasks included managing staff to search and organize 1.5M records relating to pipeline installation and repair and the development of pipeline features lists (PFLs) and QC methods for ensuring quality.

Dr. Crane has experience with consumer product and electronics failure analysis and forced failure testing, as well as protective coatings and medical devices. He has been involved in failure analysis investigations of piping systems, power transmission lines, electroless nickel coatings, and UV degradation of pigments, adhesives, and coatings.

Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Crane completed his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. His research focused on the synthesis and electrical characterization of oxide thin films, specifically investigating the interplay between electric polarization and magnetization in nanostructured composite materials, which required expertise in ionic diffusion and non-equilibrium thermodynamics. In this work, Dr. Crane also developed experience in scanning probe microscopy, resonance spectroscopy, single-crystal x-ray diffraction, and ion beam processing. He also has experience performing quality control in a nuclear materials production facility and has developed material testing equipment for thermal barrier coatings used in military aircraft engines.

Benatmane N, Crane SP, Zavaliche F, Ramesh R, Clinton CW. Voltage-dependent ferromagnetic resonance in epitaxial multiferroic nanocomposites. Applied Physics Letters 2010; 96:082503.

Crane SP, Bihler C, Gajek M, Goennenwein STB, Brandt MS, Ramesh R. Tuning magnetic properties of magnetoelectric BiFeO3-NiFe2O4 nanostructures. Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials 2008; 321(4):L5-L9.

Martin L, Crane SP, et al. Multiferroics and magnetoelectrics: Thin films and nanostructures. Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter 2008; 20:434220.

Zhan Q, Crane SP, et al. Microstructure of multiferroic BiFeO3-NiFe2O4 films. Journal of Applied Physics 2006; 89:172902.

Presentations

Crane SP. Magnetoelectric coupling and magnetic anisotropy in nanostructured oxide thin films. Materials Research Society Fall Meeting, Boston, MA, 2008.

Crane SP. Leakage mechanisms and ferromagnetic resonance analyses in thin-film multifunctional BiFeO3—NeFe2O4 nanostructures. Materials Research Society Fall Meeting, Boston, MA, 2007.

Crane SP. Thin-film multiferroic BiFeO3—NeFe2O4 nanostructures. Materials Research Society Fall Meeting, Boston, MA, 2005.

Crane SP. Magnetic properties of NiFe2O4 nanostructures. Magnetism and Magnetic Materials Fall Meeting, San Jose, CA, 2005.

• Intern, GE Global Nuclear Fuels, Wilmington, NC, 2004
• Intern, GE Aircraft Engines, Cincinnati, OH, 2003

• Materials Research Society—MRS
• ASM International