Tohru Suzuki

Tohru Suzuki is a Professor (without tenure) at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Japan, where he serves as Group Leader of the Optical Ceramics Group within the Research Center for Electronic and Optical Materials since 2023. Prior to this appointment, he held leadership positions in various ceramics research groups at NIMS since 2002, including as Group Leader of the Ceramics Processing Group (2016-2023) and Chief Researcher of the Advanced Ceramics Group (2012-2016). He received his education at Waseda University, completing both undergraduate and graduate studies in the School and Graduate School of Science and Engineering.

• Doctor of Engineering (PhD)
• Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Waseda University
• School of Science and Engineering, Waseda University

Professor Suzuki's research focuses on advanced ceramics with particular expertise in transparent ceramics, sintering processes, and crystallographic orientation control using strong magnetic fields. His work spans fundamental powder processing techniques to the development of high-performance ceramic materials for optical, structural, and energy applications. He has pioneered methods for creating textured ceramics through magnetic field-assisted processing, enabling enhanced material properties through controlled crystallographic orientation. His research has significant implications for applications ranging from laser materials and optical components to high-temperature structural ceramics and energy conversion devices.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on MAX phases (particularly Ti₃SiC₂ and Ti₂AlC), transparent ceramics (especially fluorapatite systems), and advanced sintering techniques including spark plasma sintering. His work demonstrates consistent exploration of the relationship between crystallographic orientation and mechanical properties, with numerous studies examining anisotropic behavior at both room and elevated temperatures. The research spans fundamental materials science to applied engineering, with increasing attention to energy-related applications in recent years.

• Fellow of The American Ceramics Society (2021)
• CerSJ Fellow (2020)
• Global Star Award from The Engineering Ceramics Division of The American Ceramics Society (2017)
• CerSJ Awards for academic achievements in ceramic science and technology (2015)
• Award for Outstanding Papers in JCerSJ (2012)

Professor Suzuki leads an active research program with extensive collaborations both within Japan and internationally. His work has resulted in over 300 publications with more than 5,000 citations and an h-index of 39, reflecting significant impact in the ceramics research community. He maintains active professional memberships in multiple societies including The American Ceramic Society, The Ceramic Society of Japan, and various powder technology associations, demonstrating his broad engagement with the materials science community.

His research is conducted primarily within the Optical Ceramics Group at NIMS, where he oversees advanced facilities for magnetic field-assisted processing, spark plasma sintering, and comprehensive materials characterization. The group specializes in developing novel processing techniques to control microstructure and crystallographic orientation in ceramics, with particular focus on transparent ceramics, MAX phases, and ceramic composites.