The research groups in our department and their research topics are given below;
Inorganic Chemistry Research Group
The research group has interests in the areas of metal ion induced supramolecular chemistry of polypyridine type ligands, coordination chemistry of N-heterocycles, pyridine, 2,2'-bipyridine, 1,10- phenanthroline and benzimidazole derivatives, design of ligands and complexes with applications in homogenous catalysis and ATRP, anticancer drug agents and DNA studies and ball-type phthalocyanines and MPc-perylene diimide conjugates for solar cells
Analytical Chemistry Research Group focuses on the method development for the determination of trace levels of organic residues in different environmental, food and biological samples. The research group also interested in environmental monitoring of some organic pollutants (pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, amines etc.), statistical evaluation and modelling of data sets, and chemometrics.
In addition, studies are carried out on the production and characterization of third generation solar cells, the synthesis and characterization of metal-complex dyes and the determination of their electrochemical properties, electroanalytical methods, biosensors, chemical sensors, as well as the production of hydrogen and oxygen by catalytic electrolysis of water.
Biochemistry Research Group has been targeting Cancer and working on synthesis, characterization and mainly determining the DNA binding behavior of organic compounds and transition metal complexes which are capable of binding DNA and inhibit its function. In these studies, intermolecular interactions and assays of enzyme inhibition are monitored by using electrophoresis, viscometer, dialysis, ESI-MS mass spectrometry, circular dichroism, fluorescence and UV-Vis spectrophotometer methods.
Physical Chemistry-Polymer Research Group
Nanotechnology introduced us solar cell, light emitting diode and self-antifouling materials which were widely used in the very versatile industrial applications. In our research group, organic/inorganic hybrid nanocomposite materials containing graphene, gold, palladium, silver and magnetite nanoparticles have been synthesized for the applications of the biotechnology. Their characteristic optic and physicochemical properties have also been studied. In addition to this, our research has been focused on environmentally friendly plastics. In this manner, soybean oil, lactic acid and modified rubbers have been used in the synthesis of biodegradable polymers for the applications of the packaging film industries.
In recent years, studies are also carried out on the development of new catalyst complex in Copper Based Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization, the synthesis and characterization of temperature and pH-sensitive amphiphilic smart water-soluble block and graft copolymers, glycopolymers, chemical modification of some important natural polymers such as chitosan.
In addition some other research activities are as follows; Hydrogen storage in nanostructured materials, adsorbent development for methane and carbon dioxide adsorption, adsorption of hydrogen and carbon dioxide in MOF structures, protein adsorption on carbon nanotubes, investigation of the hydrogen storage capacities of boron compounds, adsorbent development from Zonguldak region coals and their utilization in various applications, such as energy storage, pollution control for air and waste water treatment.
Organic Chemistry Research Group
The research group is interested in Organic Photochromism. The group mainly works on thermally irreversible fulgides, diarylethenes, and related photochromic compounds. Our research interests are particularly concerned with preparation of new organic photochromic compounds and investigation of their photochromic properties. These involve multi-step organic synthesis, purification, structure elucidation and photo-reactions. Possible Industrial application of photochromic compounds are colormatic lenses (sun glasses), actinometry, optical memory system, molecular switch and so on.
The organic research group also interested in asymmetric synthesis of biologically active compounds, enzymatic organic synthesis and synthesis of fluorescent organic compounds.