He is one of the research directors at the College of Engineering and the chair of Materials Science and Engineering at Arizona State University. He serves as an associate editor at the American Institute of Physics (AIP) Applied Physics Reviews[7] and Nature 2D materials & applications by Nature.[8]
Tongay earned his bachelor’s degree from Turkey’s Ege University and his master’s degree at Turkey’s Bilkent University[12] before moving to the United States to pursue a doctorate at the University of Florida where he studied materials physics working with Prof. Dr. Arthur F. Hebard[13] and a postdoctoral fellowship in materials science and engineering at the University of California, Berkeley and Stanford with Prof. Dr. Junqiao Wu.[14] He is known for his patent integrating conductive graphene into flexible displays, solar cells, and touch screens.[15] His notable and most cited work includes synthesis of 2D and quantum materials, 2D Janus materials, the discovery of quasi-1D materials including Rhenium disulfide (ReS₂),[16] graphene-based high-power devices,[17] and graphene solar cells.[18][19][20] His research often uses alloying, defects engineering, dopants, and manufacturing techniques to create a new set of functionalities. His other seminal contributions discovery of exciton complexes in ultra-thin 2D semiconductors[21] .
He has participated in major government and state-level initiatives. In late 2023, the U.S. federal government selected his team within the White House initiative, the CHIPS Act, to initiate the development of manufacturing processes for next-generation semiconductors, catering to future electronics and infrared technologies.[22] Lab-to-fab integration efforts are funded by Intel and Applied Materials. The State of Arizona has awarded the Arizona Water Innovation Initiative, which aims to develop innovative and manufacturable engineering solutions for accessing clean water.[23][24]
