Built internal software tools using AI-assisted development to accelerate composition screening in HEA synthesis. The tool tracks experimental composition and process data across parallel syntheses, uses Gaussian Process regression to predict likely performance from past results, and applies an expected-improvement approach to suggest the next composition worth testing. Built to bring the same kind of data-driven prioritization to a personal research pipeline that formal R&D portfolio tools bring to a larger team.
Built an internal software tool using AI-assisted development to accelerate composition screening for high-entropy alloy coatings. Drawing on a curated database of published HEA thin films, the tool predicts wear, cavitation, corrosion, and adhesion performance from a candidate's composition, pairs each prediction with an honest confidence rating and the closest real-world analogues, and flags which compositions are most worth depositing and testing. Built to bring the same data-driven prioritization to a personal research pipeline that formal R&D portfolio tools bring to a larger team.
Funding: Marie Curie MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship (European Commission / Horizon Europe) | Duration: 2025-2027 | Budget: EUR 263,000 | Score: 95.6/100
Host institution: Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Denmark.
ZAIRWAYS seeks to transform zinc-air flow battery (ZAFB) technology by integrating high-entropy alloys (HEAs) into the cathode system to enhance oxygen reduction and evolution reactions. By leveraging the unique multi-element structure of HEAs and synthesizing them via a surfactant-free colloidal method, the project aims to improve discharge duration and cycling stability. While HEAs have shown promise in electrochemistry, their role in mediated ORR within ZAFBs remains largely unexplored—making ZAIRWAYS a novel step toward more durable and sustainable energy storage.
Funding: European Innovation Council (EIC) Pathfinder | Duration: 2024-2025 | Role: Postdoctoral Researcher
ReZilient aims to bridge the gap between short-term energy storage and long-term hydrogen storage by developing a novel zinc-air flow battery at lab scale (0.5–1.5 kW / 6 kWh).The technology targets very low costs (≈80 €/kWh capital cost and <0.5 €/kWh per cycle) for large-scale systems. It uses a redox-mediated approach that keeps the Zn/Zn²⁺ reaction in an external reservoir, eliminating zinc electroplating inside the cell. This prevents dendrite formation, improves lifetime, and enables discharge durations lasting days and overcoming a key limitation of conventional zinc batteries
Institution: Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey | Duration: 2020-2024
My doctoral research investigated the use of High Entropy Alloys (HEAs) for two main applications: protective biomedical coatings and electrocatalysts for water splitting.
For biomedical applications, refractory HEA (RHEA) thin films were developed as protective coatings for commonly used implant materials. These coatings showed improved hardness, adhesion, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility. The incorporation of silver nanoparticles further enhanced their performance by providing strong antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa and S. aureus while maintaining good compatibility with mammalian cells.
The second part of the research focused on CoCuFeNi-based HEAs as electrocatalysts for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions. Optimized compositions demonstrated high catalytic activity and stability, enabling efficient overall water splitting.
Overall, the PhD journey demonstrates the versatility of HEAs as advanced functional materials with promising applications in both biomedical implants and sustainable energy technologies.