Speaker: Professor David Estrada, Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering, Boise State University, USA

Abstract: The unique physical properties of multifunctional two-dimensional (2D) materials continue to open new frontiers in fundamental and applied research across water purification, healthcare, and energy (Fig. 1). In this work, I will present recent advances in the synthesis of 2D and layered-materials-based inks for additive electronics manufacturing, enabling innovations in sensors, energy harvesting and storage devices, and flexible hybrid systems [1-3]. In water applications, I will introduce a flowing electrode capacitive deionization (FE-CDI) system utilizing Ti3C2Tx MXene electrodes to efficiently remove and recover ammonia from synthetic wastewater and carbonates from simulated ocean water. This system demonstrates promising potential for managing nitrogen and carbon cycles while improving access to clean water [4]. In healthcare, the intersection of graphene and biology offers a powerful avenue for musculoskeletal tissue engineering, where graphene’s exceptional physical properties contribute to fundamental biological insights [5-7]. Lastly, I will provide an update on our efforts towards wafer-scale TMD synthesis via MOCVD which has applications for microelectronics. Together, these findings highlight the transformative role of 2D materials beyond graphene in addressing critical engineering challenges and advancing sustainable solutions across diverse fields.

References

[1] F. Rajabi Kouchi, et al., Small Methods, 2500499 (2025).

[2] C. Hollar, et al., Advanced Materials Technologies, 5 (11), 2000600

     (2020).

[3] T. Pandhi, RSC Advances, 10, 38205-38219 (2020).

[4] N. Mansoor, et al., npj Clean Water, 5 (1), 1-11 (2022).

[5] M. Sawyer, et al., ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, in revision (2025).

[6] M. Sawyer, et al., ACS Applied Biomaterials, 6 (9), 3717-3725 (2023).

[7] S. M. Frahs, et al., ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 11, 41906 – 41924 (2019).

Biography

Dr. David Estrada is a professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Boise State University where he serves as the Site Director of the National Science Foundation’s Center for Atomically Thin Multifunctional Coatings. A U.S. Navy veteran, Estrada earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Boise State and his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign under the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program and the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Programs. He is a recipient of the NSF CAREER Award from the Division of Materials Research and the Presidential Award for Early Career Scientists and Engineers through the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. He is a Senior Member of the IEEE and a Fellow of the NextFlex Manufacturing USA Institute.