Research Areas

Our Department has both theoretical and experimental research activities. Theoretical Chemistry, Quantum Chemistry and Statistical Thermodynamics are among the main theoretical research interests. Experimental research is carried out by seven main groups in our department with extensive facilities. Main research interests are polymer synthesis and characterization, solid state chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, spectroscopy, rheology, surface and interface chemistry, nanomaterials, and electrochemistry. Graduate and undergraduate students are involved in research at all levels.

Computational Biology & Chemistry Laboratory

Prof. Dr. Ersin Yurtsever teaches quantum chemistry, thermodynamics and statistical thermodynamics. His recent research focuses on the areas of dynamics and thermodynamics of clusters and also quantum mechanical calculations of chemical bondings.

Polymer Synthesis & Characterization Laboratory

Prof. Iskender Yılgor is conducting research on structural design, synthesis, characterization and investigation of the structure-morphology-property relations in multiphase copolymers. He has extensive experience in the preparation, characterization, modification and applications of thermoplastic polyurethanes, reactive silicones, silicone containing copolymers and epoxy resins.

Inorganic Chemistry Research Group

Inorganic chemistry research group of Koc University (KU) was founded in 1994 with the initiation of Prof. Dr. Mehmet Somer.

Variety of research topics contains: 
+ Polar intermetallic compounds, cluster compounds
+ Ternary and quaternary Nitridoborates
+ Azidometalates
+ Solid hydrogen storage materials
+ Nanoscaled rare earth oxides- mesoporous materials
+ Thermal & Hydrothermal behaviour of catalyst carriers
+ Piezo- ferro electric metal oxides.
 

Physical Chemistry Research Group

Prof. Dr. A. Levent Demirel’s research expertise is in the field of surface/interface physical chemistry of materials. He worked on semi-conducting thin films, molecularly thin liquid films, thin films of liquid crystalline & polymeric materials. His recent research interests include functional surfaces and self-organization of polymers & polypeptides.

Polymer & Nanomaterials Research Group

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Funda Yagcı Acar’s group mainly works on synthetic project.  She focuses on understanding the relation between the structure and the property of materials, learn how to control these features and properties and exploit for various applications.  She work on projects involving nanoparticles (such as quantum dots and superparamagnetic iron oxide), polymers and hybrid materials combining the two.  She is interested in broad range of applications such as contrast enhancement in MRI, imaging, drug targeting, sensors, lasers, magnetic separation and so on.  Interdisciplinary nature of her projects provides opportunity to expand her skills and knowledge in collaborations with other disciplines.

Applied Spectroscopy & Surface Science Group

Asst. Prof. Dr. Ozgur Birer’s group is interested in following subjects.

Helium Nanodroplets – Load tiny tiny droplets of liquid helium with molecules and do high resolution spectroscopy at 0.4 K!.

Protein-Surface Interactions – Follow the surface interactions in real time with Surface Plasmon Resonance and Quartz Crystal Microbalance.

Sonochemistry – Derive chemical reactions with ultrasound to obtain novel nanoparticles.

Inorganic Materials Research Group

Asst. Prof. Dr. Ugur Unal’s research interests are synthesis of ceramics, inorganic layered materials and application of these materials in the field of electrochemistry, photochemistry and optics. He works on synthesis of ceramics and inorganic layered materials with solid state reaction, sol-gel and hydrothermal methods. The Unal group is mainly interested in layered materials. The nanotechnology behind layered materials is being revealed by the structural and physicochemical properties. Compared to the bulk structure, nanosize sheets possess distinct electrical, optical and chemical properties. The phenomena that layered oxides can be separable into their two dimensional smallest units, nanosize metal-oxide sheets, opened a wide point of view into the research and utilization of these units in various shapes and applications. It was revealed that these units have the functionality that bulk layered solids do not have. Properties are unique and different than those of bulk solid. After exfoliation, layered oxides behave in a distinct way when compared with the bulk form. Separating bulk solids into two dimensional nanosize sheets put many advantageous in utilizing layered oxides in various applications, such as thin film preparation, fabrication of new structures, producing organic-inorganic composite materials, and getting higher efficiency in catalytic and photocatalytic applications. Understanding the properties of these nanosize units leads into fabrication of more advanced materials with enhanced properties.