Seth Ariel Tongay named Royal Society of Chemistry Fellow

Seth Ariel Tongay, a professor of materials science and engineering in the School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, poses in his lab. Tongay has been named a Royal Society of Chemistry Fellow and designated by Clarivate as a 2024 Highly Cited Researcher. Photographer: Erika Gronek/ASU

Shortly after recently being selected as an American Physical Society Fellow, Seth Ariel Tongay was recognized as a Royal Society of Chemistry Fellow, or RSC Fellow. He has also had the honor of being named by Clarivate as a 2024 Highly Cited Researcher.

“It feels surreal to me,” says Tongay, a professor of materials science and engineering and research director in the School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University.

Being recognized as a highly cited researcher requires conducting impactful work that pushes the boundaries of science, engineering and technology. Tongay says he’s honored to have received the recognition in each of the past five years.

“My team and I take it as a good indicator that our research is headed in the right direction,” he says.

Tongay’s research lies at the intersection of various fields, specifically physics, chemistry and electronics. His studies focus on two-dimensional materials as potential next-generation semiconductors.

Unlike three-dimensional materials such as silicon, two-dimensional materials are extremely stable at ultra-small scales, making them a better alternative for producing smaller technological devices.

Over the last ten years, Tongay made major contributions to understanding these materials and, most importantly, developed precise manufacturing techniques that enable industry to easily integrate them into their workflows.

By leveraging his acute understanding of chemistry, physics and engineering, he discovered novel ways to grow two-dimensional materials to a usable scale while maintaining their core conductivity and catalytic properties.

Tongay is receiving the RSC Fellowship for advancing the chemistry field in pursuit of his research goals. He attributes earning the recognition to his team’s work on carbon-based two-dimensional materials, which requires a deep understanding of chemistry.

“Our two-dimensional polymers have demonstrated world-record catalytic activity,” he says. “I cannot imagine how we could have done it without chemistry.”

One of the biggest challenges that Tongay and his team had to overcome is the chemical phenomenon known as corrosion. Much like how rust forms when iron reacts with oxygen, two-dimensional materials oxidize upon exposure to air. This challenge is especially pronounced in these ultra-thin structures, as their single-layer structure allows greater oxygen interaction.

“We have developed techniques to understand why the corrosion happens in some of the material systems, but not others, and developed chemical methods to be able to avoid the corrosion,” says Tongay. “That required hardcore chemistry.”

Tongay says that with these recognitions come responsibilities to actively participate in activities organized by the research societies, but most importantly, to be a good example for future engineers. He is determined to continue making progress on his research, particularly simplifying the integration of two-dimensional materials in existing manufacturing processes.

“It’s great that there is a lot of excitement around the two-dimensional materials field,” says Tongay. “My team and I look forward to continuing contributing to the field through meaningful innovation.”

Tony Waas, director of ASU’s School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy and a professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering, congratulates Tongay on his accomplishments.

“Seth is a great example to students and faculty members of how to be a highly successful and productive researcher,” Waas says. “I am elated that he has been chosen to receive these high honors, which bring glory to our materials science and engineering program, the Fulton Schools and ASU.”