Research
1. Novel Materials for Nano-Magnetic Devices to Integrate Memory & Data Storage: We work on innovative materials and nano-devices that go far beyond existing ones in energy efficiency, speed, and integration density. In particular, we use materials and devices that couple electrons' spin and charge properties, also called spintronic devices. Our goal is to beat today's performance, energy, and scaling limits of data storage, memory, and computing devices. This work involves new materials development, understanding of the physics of thin films and interfaces, and their consequent electrical and magnetic behavior.
2. Novel Devices for Electric-Current/Field Driven Magnetization Controlled by Spin-Orbit Torques: We are also interested in using spintronic effects to build microwave, radio-frequency, and sensing devices. Examples are record-small electronic oscillators using spin-torque, and record-sensitive detectors of microwave radiation, also enabled by spintronic effects.
3. Novel Magnetic Nano-Particles for Bio/Nano-Technology and Its Applications: We focus on discovering novel magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) for bio-nano-technology and its applications such as MRI contrast enhancement, drug delivery, biro detection of pathogens, tissue engineering, tumor destruction via heating (hyperthermia), etc.
4. Magnetic 2D-Materials: Recently, we started to work on the 2D-materials MoX2 growing (x=Se, Te, S) and gaining magnetic characteristics to them. Since MoS2 behaves with semiconducting property at low dimensions, we are working on adding magnetic polarity beyond its semiconductor property.
5. Advanced Radar Absorbing Composite Materials: Radars, which can be defined as a device that transmits an electromagnetic (EM) wave and detects objects using energy emitted after communication with an object, can detect the altitude, orientation, and speed of objects. While the radar can operate at any microwave frequency, military and satellite communication systems mostly operate in the X and Ku bands. In these bands, it is important to develop a thin and light EM absorption material with high absorption capacity, and a wide absorption bandwidth. It is known that materials with high microwave absorption performance must meet two important requirements; i) impedance matching, and ii) converting the energy of the absorbed wave into heat or other types of energies as much as possible. We are interested in X and Ku band EM wave absorbing in advanced radar-absorbing composites including conductive polymer, 2D dielectrics, and magnetic nanoparticles.
Current Projects
1) Investigation of Radar Absorption Capacities of PANI/M:MoS2 (M: Ni, Fe3O4, Co and CoFe2O4) Hybrid Nanocomposites Created with Conductive Polymer Matrix of MoS2 Nanolayers Modified with Magnetic Nanoparticles
Project Team: Dr. Mustafa Akyol (PI) - Adana Alparslan Türkeş Science and Technology University
Dr. Muharrem Karaaslan - İskenderun Technical University
Dr. Oğuzhan Akgöl - İskenderun Technical University
Project duration: 01 March 2022 – 01 September 2024
Budget: 30kUSD
Founder: TÜBİTAK 3501
Summary
The development of a thin and light electromagnetic (EM) wave absorption material with a wide band range and high absorption capacity is important for our defense industry. We prepared it by taking into account all mechanisms, from absorption of EM waves to energy conversion. In this research, research will be conducted on the creation of the PANI/M:MoS2 (M:Ni,Fe3O4,Co,CoFe2O4) hybrid nanocomposite structure using PANI, a conductive polymer of MoS2 nanosheets modified with magnetic nanoparticles, the investigation of some of its physical properties and the development of electromagnetic wave absorption parameters. If the project is completed successfully, a hybrid composite that absorbs the X and Ku bands at a rate of 90 percent or more will be produced.
2) Electric Field Control of Flexible Electromagnetic Wave Absorption Structures
Project Team: Dr. Mustafa Akyol (PI)- Adana Alparslan Türkeş Science and Technology University
Dr. Muharrem Karaaslan - İskenderun Technical University
Dr. Oğuzhan Akgöl - İskenderun Technical University
Dr. Müslüm Demir - Boğaziçi University
Project duration: 01 February 2024 – 01 February 2027
Budget: 55kUSD
Founder: TÜBİTAK 1001
Summary
A thin, flexible, light, and dynamically controllable EM wave absorbing material/structure is important for our defense industry to provide solutions to the disadvantages of currently used systems such as thickness and weight caused by the static absorption of electromagnetic (EM) waves. In this research project that we have prepared to control the absorption/reflection of EM waves with an electric field, research will be conducted on some physical properties of flexible devices that we will produce by synthesizing 2-dimensional advanced materials and on controlling the electromagnetic wave absorption parameters via electrically. If the project is completed successfully, a device that can control the absorption of EM waves in the X band by 90% or more will be produced.
3) Development of Next Generation Dynamic Cell Culture Model: 3D Microfluidic Magnetic Cell Culture
Project Team: Dr. Güneş Kibar (PI) - Adana Alparslan Türkeş Science and Technology University
Dr. Barbaros Çetin - Bilkent University
Dr. Veli Cengiz Özalp - Atılım University
Dr. Mustafa Akyol - Adana Alparslan Türkeş Science and Technology University
Project duration: 15 December 2023 – 15 June 2026
Budget: 55kUSD
Founder: TÜBİTAK 1001
Summary
Preclinical medicine, vaccine trials, and personalized medicine are gaining importance for scientific communities. Cell culture is an indispensable tool for preclinical data analysis in cell biology, cell division mechanisms, material testing, and drug development. The most popular cell culture models are two-dimensional (2D) as a monolayer. However, this model fails to mimic the natural cell environment because most matrices lack cell-cell and cell-extracellular circuits. In recent years, in-vitro three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models have been eliminating the inadequacy of 2D models by better imitating the in-body natural environment. Our project, proposing a new generation dynamic magnetic 3D (m3D) microfluidic cell culture model, aims to solve the problems experienced in 3D cell culture models and magnetic 3D cell culture models in microfluidic systems.
Completed Projects
1) The Effect of Gd and Ca Addition on the Properties of the Material in PrBaMn2O6 Manganite Compounds That Can Be Used as Cooling Elements and Engineering Applications
Project Team: Dr. Ahmet Ekicibil (PI) - Çukurova University
Dr. Selda Kılıç Çetin - Çukurova University
Dr. Gönül Akça - Çukurova University
Dr. Ali Osman Ayaş - Adıyaman University
Dr. Mustafa Akyol - Adana Alparslan Türkeş Bilim ve Teknoloji Üniversitesi
Project duration: 15 November 2020 – 15 November 2021
Budget: 10kUSD
Founder: TÜBİTAK 1002
Summary