Project Support from TÜBİTAK to Our Three Faculty Members

3 projects from Istanbul Technical University are granted support under TÜBİTAK Scientific and Technological Research Projects Support Program.

Scientific evaluation process of projects proposed to Research Support Programs Directorate (ARDEB) in the 1^st period of 2020 within the scope of TÜBİTAK 1001 – Scientific and Technological Research Projects Support Program was completed and announced to the public by TÜBİTAK.

TÜBİTAK decided to support 94 of the 154 projects submitted within the scope of the 1001- Scientific and Technological Research Projects Support Program. Three more projects conducted by İTÜ faculty members are granted support under the program.

Projects granted support by TÜBİTAK whose principal investigators are our faculty members Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hakan Karaağaç, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhammet Ü. Kahveci, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Osman Akın Kutlar are listed as follows:

Principal Investigator: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hakan Karaağaç

İTÜ Faculty of Science and Letters, Physics Engineering Department

Project Title: Fabrication of regularly structured and passivated ZnO nanowires-based CZTS semi-transparent solar cells on graphene layers applied as optically transparent conductive electrodes

Project Description:

In this project, solar cells will be produced in the third generation CZTS semi-transparent core-shell architecture (exhibiting high efficiency with ≥20% average transparency in the visible part of the solar spectrum) based on well-aligned periodic ZnO nanowires synthesized on graphene-coated glass surfaces. Our goal in this study is to improve ZnO-based CZTS semi-transparent solar cell parameters by using SnO2 and TiO2 passivation, which have been successful in various opto-electronic devices, together to reduce the surface defect concentration of ordered ZnO nanowires. If successful, the proposed research will allow the emergence of a new generation of semi-transparent photovoltaic cells that are low-cost and have transparency, simplicity and high power conversion capacity, which are the basic components for creating building-integrated PV systems, in the near future.

Principal Investigator: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhammet Ü. Kahveci

İTÜ Faculty of Science and Letters, Chemistry Department

Project Title:   “Preparation of aza-BODIPY containing poly (-amino ester)s potentially used in cancer diagnosis and treatment and investigation of their biological properties”

Project Description: Cancer is the leading health problem today due to its high death/case numbers and diagnosis/treatment costs. There are many studies on the development of systems based on polymeric materials for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. In order to contribute to these efforts, this project addresses the development of near-infrared light absorbing/radiating, water soluble/dispersible, biocompatible, biodegradable and pH-sensitive polymers. The ultimate goal is to demonstrate the potential of the developed polymeric structures in imaging, gene therapy, phototherapy, combination therapy and theranostic applications targeted for tumors. It is anticipated that the proposed carrier platform will allow reduction of the side effects frequently encountered in cancer treatment with both active targeting and size-based passive targeting approaches. In addition, PDT and combination therapy approaches suggested in the project have the potential to offer a solution to drug resistance, another problem encountered in chemotherapy.

Principal Investigator: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Osman Akın Kutlar

İTÜ Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Project Title: Investigation of Performance and Fuel Consumption Improvement Possibilities for the Use of Wankel Engine in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and as Range Extender

Project Description: Alternative methods such as direct injection, turbulent jet ignition, skip cycle and two-stroke cycle will be studied to increase the performance of the Wankel engine and reduce its fuel consumption. Thermodynamic cycle and three-dimensional flow analyses will be performed for theoretical studies within the project. For the experimental studies, the original single rotor Wankel engine experimental setup developed in a previous TÜBİTAK project will be used. By using the infrastructure available in our laboratory for the experimental setup, various parameters such as speed, moment, air flow rate, fuel consumption, exhaust emissions and indicated pressure of the engine will be measured. The main goal of the project is to contribute to the creation of the unique technological know-how our country needs for the use of the Wankel engine especially for UAVs in the defense industry and as a range extender in the automotive sector. 

Click for the scope and details of the project.