DATE Monday 16 March 2026 | TIME 1300-1400 AEDT | PLACE Hybrid (G29, New Horizons, Monash University, Clayton or Zoom)| Flyer
Abstract
Atomically thin two-dimensional (2D) materials have emerged as a transformative materials platform for future electronic, optoelectronic, quantum, and energy technologies due to their ultimate thickness scaling, tunable properties, and compatibility with heterogeneous integration. However, their practical impact critically depends on scalable manufacturing approaches capable of delivering atomic-scale control over large areas under industry-compatible conditions.
In this seminar, I will discuss chemical vapor deposition (CVD) as a scalable manufacturing route for atomically thin 2D materials and present my research on atomic-scale engineering of 2D materials. Over the years, I have developed industry-relevant growth approaches including thermal CVD, plasma-enhanced CVD, and laser-assisted CVD to achieve precise control over structure–property relationships in 2D materials for targeted device applications. I will first introduce a gettering-assisted growth strategy that enables the synthesis of large-area, high-quality monolayer and single-crystal graphene, addressing key challenges in uniformity during scalable growth. I will then demonstrate how CVD can be used to precisely control defects, interfaces, and stacking in atomically thin materials such as monolayer MoS2 and hBN, as well as their heterostructures, enabling tunable optoelectronic, electrochemical, and quantum functionalities. I will also present the synthesis and properties of monolayer amorphous carbon, an emerging amorphous counterpart to graphene, highlighting its potential as an ultrathin barrier layer for advanced electronics, membrane technologies, and related systems.
Collectively, these studies bridge fundamental materials physics with device-level performance, revealing viable pathways toward wafer-scale integration and practical deployment. Finally, I will outline my recent efforts and future directions focused on translating atomically thin 2D materials into real-world applications through close industry collaboration, with the goal of establishing an interdisciplinary research stream that integrates fundamental discovery with translational impact by developing scalable and industry-compatible 2D material platforms for smart infrastructure, energy-efficient electronics, and clean-energy technologies.
Biography:
Dr Irfan Haider Abidi is a materials engineer by training and received his PhD in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (Nanotechnology) from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). He was a Research Fellow from 2018 to 2021 at the Centre for Advanced 2D Materials (CA2DM), National University of Singapore (NUS), a world-leading graphene research centre, and subsequently served as a Research Fellow in the School of Engineering at RMIT University. Dr Abidi’s research focuses on atomic-scale engineering of two-dimensional (2D) materials, using scalable manufacturing route such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and laser-assisted CVD. His work targets applications in electronic, optoelectronic, quantum, energy, and electrochemical devices, and bridges fundamental materials science with device-level performance while addressing key industrial challenges through scalable synthesis and integration strategies. He has co-authored 45+ high-impact journal publications, received ~ 3000 citations (h-index 26, Google Scholar), holds four US patents, and is the editor of one book. Dr Abidi has secured over AUD 3 million in competitive research funding as a Chief Investigator across both fundamental and translational programs, including an ARC Discovery Project (DP240100145) and an ARC LIEF grant (LE250100014). As Lead Investigator, he has also won two consecutive Australia’s Economic Accelerator (AEA) Ignite grants, securing ~ AUD 900k across two funding rounds. Dr Abidi’s research is supported by strong collaborations with national and international academic institutions and industry partners, reflecting his commitment to translating advanced materials research into scalable technologies with real-world impact.
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