LEE- Nano Bilim ve Nano Mühendislik Lisansüstü Programı

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http://hdl.handle.net/11527/19415

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3D printed antibacterial herbal loaded alginate-pectin medical patch: Fabrication and characterization

(Graduate School, 2022-07-07) Dini, Ghazaleh ; Benli, Birgül ; 513201032 ; Nanoscience and Nanoengineering

This thesis focuses on a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary approach to the development of an effective and sustainable wound dressing. The thesis consists of three main parts, each layer building upon the previous to create a final product that is both innovative and practical. In the first part, the necessary materials such as pectin was synthesized in order to serve as the base layer of the wound dressing. This involves careful selection and testing of materials to ensure that it meets the necessary requirements for strength, flexibility, and biocompatibility. In the second part of the thesis, the antibacterial agents from herbal extracts were prepared. These natural agents offer several advantages over synthetic alternatives, including reduced toxicity and improved biocompatibility. Also, natural and biocompatible nanoclay as a carrier for these agents were used to controlled release, with the assistance of synthesized cellulose which was extracted from waste fruits, expected effects were improved, and targeted delivery to the wound area. In the third and final part of the thesis, advanced 3D printing technology was used in two ways. Firstly, a skeleton was designed for the prepared hydrogels using 3D printing. This skeleton provides structure and support for the hydrogel while allowing for air flow and moisture control. Secondly, the polymers (pectin:alginate/gelatin and nanoclay loaded ones themselves were 3D printed using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM). We also integrated the hydrogel and clay material to form more hydrophilic film patch that is both strong and flexible. The final product is an antibacterial wound dressing that combines advanced materials and technologies to promote healing and prevent infection. This innovative approach has the potential to revolutionize wound care and improve patient outcomes. As it has been demonstrated in literature, wound healing is a complex and intricate process that involves multiple stages and requires the right type of dressings to prevent infection and promote the regrowth of tissue. The ideal dressing should have several key properties, including the ability to keep the wound moist, allow air to flow through, protect the wound from external contaminants, absorb excess fluid, and be easy to remove without causing additional damage to the wound. Hydrogels are an excellent choice for wound dressings due to their unique physical and chemical properties. These materials are highly absorbent and can retain large amounts of water, which helps to keep the wound moist and promote healing. A hydrophilic wound dressing is necessary for rapid therapeutic effect and absorption of exudate. This characteristic also helps to maintain a moist environment, promote high blood absorption, and enhance erosion capability and it was measured with contact angles. They are also permeable to gases, allowing air to flow through and providing xx oxygen to the wound. Additionally, hydrogels can be formulated to have antimicrobial properties, which can help to fight against bacteria and prevent infection. In this thesis, pectin was synthesized from pomegranate and grapefruit peels using citric acid extraction and cellulose was synthesized from pomegranate peels, making the study sustainable and environmentally friendly. Also, the fallen fruits from the grapefruit trees in the faculty garden were collected and utilized in the study, emphasizing their significant contribution to the fruit industry and agricultural research. Additionally, the effect of grapefruit juice instead of citric acid was alternatively used during the process of pectin extraction with the aim of achieving zero waste. Malva sylvestris and Cichorium intybus L, two local Turkish herbs, were used as antibacterial agents. The extraction of these herbs was done using microwave-assisted extraction with ethanol and membrane-assisted purification methods. Additionally, dialysis tubes which are kind of membrane, were used during the purification of antibacterial herbal extracts and the resulted extracts were compared with traditional extraction methods. The synthesized extracts were analyzed using optical spectroscopy techniques such as UV-Vis Absorption Spectroscopy. Herbal extracts were loaded into Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) and injected into the hydrogel pores in order to help with air flow in the hydrogel area. Glycerol also used as a plasticizer. The process of extracting materials from plants and fruit wastes was also carried out using microwave-assisted synthesis methods, which are low-cost and time-efficient. The effectiveness of Malva sylvestris and Cichorium intybus L against bacteria was examined using the disc diffusion method. Their antibacterial activities were tested against E. coli and S. aurous that are effective two common types of wound bacteria to create pectin/alginate-based hydrogel wound dressings. Disc diffusion tests confirmed the antibacterial activity of the chosen plant extracts against common wound bacteria. To improve the effect of nanotubes such as high water absorbency and elongation as fillers of reinforced hydrogels composites, cellulose was synthesized. Ash content tests and moisture level measurements of the synthesized pectin and cellulose confirmed their high purity. In the next stage of the thesis, biopolymers and HNTs were combined to form a composite that was used to formulate a hydrogel that could be used inside a 3D printed skeleton. To design an effective antibacterial patch, 3D FDM printer were used. A patch-shaped skeleton with several pins were designed using 3D printing technology to make the hydrogel porous masks. The pectin/alginate based composites were poured on top of a cross-linker solution to form the hydrogel on the mask surface. Then, the pectin/alginate based hydrogels were cross-linked with calcium chloride (CaCl2). In the final stage of the thesis, formulated layer from cellulose and HNTs composite were prepared. These nanoclays were designed to act as carriers for herbal extracts. The effectiveness of these hydrogels in preventing bacterial growth was also tested against common wound bacteria, E coli and S. aurous and the results were successful. Additionally, the ability of these hydrogels to absorb water was evaluated using a gelatin hydration test. The behavior of the hydrogels was also examined in detail. In conclusion, the results showed that hydrogels containing either Malva sylvestris or Cichorium intybus L plant extract have great potential as antibacterial patches for xxi wound dressing. However, further in vivo studies are necessary before any clinical application can be made.
Composite carbon nanofiber anodes for na ion batteries

(Graduate School, 2022-06-02) Abdolrazzaghian, Elham ; Yanılmaz, Meltem ; 513201009 ; Nanoscience and Nanoengineering

Nanofibers are one of the most important nanomaterials and have many applications in diverse fields such as biomedical engineering, drug delivery, filtration, sensors, energy storage etc. due to their unique properties like high specific surface area, small diameters, uniform interconnected 3D porous structure and low weight. There are different types of techniques to produce nanofibers like self-assembly, drawing, melt-blowing, phase separation, electrospinning and centrifugal spinning. Due to special features of centrifugal spinning such as high production yield and safe production, it is one of the most promising methods to prepare nanofibers. In this technique, nanofibers are made by applying centrifugal force on polymer solution or melt by using a high-speed rotating spinneret which lead to form nanofibers on collectors. In centrifugal spinning method, the morphology of nanofibers is dependent on diverse processing parameters such as viscosity, surface tension, molecular structure, molecular weight, solution concentration, solvent structure, additive; and operational conditions such as rotational speed, feeding rate, nozzle diameter, and nozzle-collector distance. Energy and environment head the list of top global problems facing society in the twenty-first century. Nanotechnology is responding to these challenges by designing and fabricating functional nanofibers optimized for energy and environmental applications. Nanofiber materials have been extensively studied as constituent parts of energy conversion and storage devices. Lithium ion batteries (LIBs) are rechargeable batteries and have been widely used in different applications like portable electronic devices and electric vehicles due to their high energy density, however limited lithium sources lead to find another option. Production of sodium ion batteries (SIBs) are gaining great attention due to low-cost and high abundance of sodium resources. Rechargeable batteries consist of an anode, a cathode, an electrolyte and a separator. Conventional materials used as anode suffer from large volume expansion, leakage, pulverization and low conductivity whereas carbon nanofibers have been widely used in electrochemical energy storage devices because of their excellent conductivity, extremely large surface area, high porosity, mechanical flexibility and structural stability that will improve capacity and cycling performance when they are used as electrodes in sodium-ion batteries. The performance of these materials is greatly influenced by the material type; structure; mechanical, chemical, thermal stability and physical properties. For example, if the surface area and porosity increased, the permeation of the electrolyte increases, so the electrode can provide higher sodium storage capability and the electrode will have shorter transport length for sodium ions. Heteroatom doping is one of the best ways to increase the surface area and porosity of nanofibers so enhanced sodium ion insertion and desertion at high rates can be achieved. Until now, composite carbon nanofiber using various materials such as tin, iron, antimony and molybdenum have been widely investigated as the anode materials in SIBs, since they possess high theoretical capacity, environmental benignity, safety, and low cost. In the first part of the study; it was aimed to fabricate carbon nanofibers as anodes for sodium ion batteries via centrifugal spinning. PAN was used as carbon fiber precursor because of its high carbon yield, high thermal, chemical and mechanical properties. Also, PS was blended with PAN in order to increase the porosity of carbon nanofibers. Moreover, graphene with a two-dimensional honeycomb structure was used to improve the electrochemical performance of the LIBs and SIBs, due to its high theoretical specific capacity, large specific surface area, and good electronic conductivity. In addition, the effect of Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) on performance and electrochemical capacity of LIBs and SIBs was investigated. PAN/PS/graphene polymer blend solution was prepared in DMF and centrifugally spun in order to obtain nanofibers. Nanofibers were fabricated at the rotational speed of 4000 rpm, feeding rate of 60 ml/h, with 0.5 mm nozzle diameter and 20 cm collector distance. After obtaining nanofibers, blend nanofibers were stabilized in air atmosphere at 280 ℃ for 2.5 h with a heating rate of 5 ℃/min and then carbonized in nitrogen atmosphere at 800 ℃ for 2 h with a heating rate of 2 ℃/min. Furthermore, MoS2 decorated graphene-containing porous carbon nanofibers were fabricated via hydrothermal synthesis. The morphology and average fiber diameter distribution were analyzed with SEM. Porous structure of the carbon nanofibers was observed via TEM images. XRD and Raman spectroscopy were used for structural characterization. Porous structure enhanced the electrochemical performance of electrodes. Furthermore, MoS2 decorated graphene included porous CNF improved the electrochemical capacity up to 860 mAh/g in Li-ion cells and 455 mAh/g in Na-ion cells with excellent cycling performance. In the second part of the study; it was aimed to fabricate carbon nanofibers by using water soluble polymers such as PVA and PVP. Considering environmental concerns, it is vital to fabricate carbon nanofibers from environmentally friendly materials. PVA/PVP nanofibers were fabricated via fast and safe centrifugal spinning. The effect of PVP content on the morphology and thermal properties of PVA/PVP blend nanofibers were studied by using SEM and DSC studies. Moreover, the effect of carbonization conditions including stabilization time, stabilization temperature, carbonization time, carbonization temperature on morphology and carbon yield was investigated.
Design and simulation of a microfluidic biochip for optic detection with derivatized microbeads and the biochemistry of learning

(Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü, 2020) Tüysüz, Tuğçe ; Alptürk, Onur ; Uludağ, Yıldız ; 630291 ; Nano Bilim ve Nano Mühendislik

Microfluidic systems are an important technology suitable for a wide range of applications due to their rapid response capabilities, low cost and, small amounts of sample need. Microfluidics tries to overcome difficulties in conventional assays in medical diagnosis. The combination of biosensors and microfluidic chips increases the analytical capability to extend the scope of possible applications. In this thesis, two types of microfluidic modeling were designed for biomedical applications. The first design is a bead derivatized sensor in a microfluidic chip to detect biomarkers. The second model is designed to observe the effect of α-syn protein which constitutes the communication of two nerve cells through channels in the microfluidic system and the long term potentiation. In Project 1, Integrated affinity sensors within microfluidic platforms show great interest in life environmental and science analytical science applications. They are generally placed in the base of a fluidic flow channel on which an analyte solution is passed. The analyte detection on the sensor depends on the event of a recognition-binding, most generally antigen-antibody, for which the recognition molecules are attached to the surface of the sensor for the analyte. The analyte -recognition molecule complex is detected on the sensor. The integration of bead-based immunoaffinity assays in microfluidic chips has recently become an area of interest for many researchers. Integrated affinity sensors inside of the microfluidic structures have many advantages which are low-cost, rapid, highly specific detection and sensitivity. In this study, the microfluidic system has been designed with different substrate patterns in the continuous flow of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and microbeads were examined. Functionalized microbeads have been used as biomolecules to enhance the affinity of biomarkers and for high sensitivity. Microchannel was patterned with square pyramid well array, conic well array, triangle pyramid array, and the each microbeads made of polystyrene were placed into the each microwell; PS beads were simulated with different flow rates. Initially, PBS was utilized to simulate blood serum, and PS nanoparticles, functionalized and fluorescently labeled nanoparticles that allow detection of biomarkers, were simulated for examination by fluorescence microscopy. As a result of three different geometric well chip patterns and three different bead size simulations, it was determined that the shape of the well should be conical and the bead size should be 150 µm. The lowest cross-section flow rate of the fluid sent from the inlet of the channel with a flow rate of 300 µl was determined in conical design. This indicates that there will be more interaction with the surface compared to other patterned arrays. In Project 2, The purpose of this project is to create a biosynthetic neuron-on-a-chip to reproduce the activity of neuronal function. Neurons are the main important units of the nervous system and brain. The target of neurons is to receive sensory input from the outside world and send motor commands to the muscles. They are also responsible for converting and transmitting electrical signals in every step that takes place in this cycle. Neurons communicate with electrochemical signals. Therefore, electrical and chemical events must occur together for the communication of two neuron cells. It transmits a neuron signal through the axons to the dendrites of other neurons to which it connects via the axons called synapses. Long Term Potentialization is a process in which synaptic connections between neurons are strengthened by frequent activation. LTP is thought to change the brain in response to experience, thereby providing a mechanism underlying learning and memory. In the process of learning, nerve cells, the basic computing units of any nervous system, are thought to exhibit digital and analog properties. Alpha-synuclein(α-syn) proteins are of high importance to sustaining LTP in the brain. In this thesis, the most suitable platform for communication between two yeast cells and the passage of α-syn proteins through channels is optimized and designed. It refers to nerve cells in the computer environment by yeast cells in the simulation program. A channel that enables the communication of two yeast cells was designed and these yeast cells were placed in the traps located at the entrances of the channels. The activating agent was sent to produce α-syn of yeast cells in the A channel. Αlpha-synuclein protein, which is synthesized from yeast cells in the A channel, has passed through the channel and attached to the NDMA receptor in the other yeast cell in the B channel. Then, LTP was provided by activating the α-syn protein bound to the NDMA receptor in a balanced manner with Ca^+ions. Irregularity in the ratio of protein Ca^+ and α-syn prevents the formation of long term potentiation and causes Parkinson's disease. Optimization studies were carried out in microfluidic chip design. The number of channels along with the microfluidic chip, the width of chamber A and B, the width of the communication channel, the distance between communication channels, the length of yeast cells chamber, the length of yeast cells communication channel, the inlet-outlet radius of chamber A and B were determined. As a result of these determinations, it was observed how each parameter affects diffusion. The greater diffusion indicates that the amount of α-syn protein passes more from chamber A to chamber B. It was also observed that some parameters started diffusion earlier. Therefore, it enabled more yeast cells to interact. Computer modeling and simulation were applied as a very useful tool for improvements in the design of microfluidic chip geometry, as well as for the optimization of the technological and functional parameters. In this thesis, COMSOL Multiphysics, which is the most used in microfluidic systems, is used in two projects for microfluidic chip design and simulations within the designed chip.
Development of antibacterial coatings on titanium based biomaterials

(Lisansüstü Eğitim Enstitüsü, 2022) Aydoğan, Dilek Teker ; Çimenoğlu, Hüseyin ; 723039 ; Nanobilim ve Nanomühendislik

Since the average human life is getting longer, research on long-lasting and biocompatible biomaterials has become more common. A biomaterial is a material that can replace any damaged tissue or organ and therefore, it is in continuous interaction with body fluids. There are various biomaterials for different application areas. The main issues to be considered are the mechanical properties, design, and biocompatibility of the developed biomaterial. Metal and metal alloys are the most frequently preferred biomaterials and they have been used as hip, knee, and dental implants for many years. These biomaterials are also expected to show superiour biocompatibility, corrosion and wear resistance, along with non-toxicity. Especially the long-term stability of orthopedic and dental implants depends on the bonding properties at the implant-bone interface and being free of any post-operative infections due to the implant features. Titanium and titanium alloys stand out among other metallic implant materials (such as stainless steel and cobalt-chromium alloys) with their excellent mechanical properties, biocompatibility, low densitiy, high corrosion and wear resistance. The most important feature that separates titanium from the other metals is the natural oxide film layer on its surface. Even though, this stable, dense, and continuous layer provides corrosion resistance and biocompatibility to the material, but, its ability to bond to bone is quite weak. In addition, due to the toxic effect caused by alloying elements that can be released from some titanium alloys (such as Ti6Al4V), titanium alloys may fail in long-term implant applications. For this reason, numerous surface treatment methods are used to enhanced the surface features of titanium and its alloys. Micro-arc oxidation (MAO), also called plasma electrolytic oxidation, is a convenient technic that is used to produce ceramic coatings on titanium, aluminum, magnesium, and their alloys. With this method, it is possible to get thick, porous, firmly attached ceramic coatings on the surface of titanium and its alloys. In addition to these, antibacterial oxide coatings can also be obtained by adding appropriate antibacterial agents into the electrolyte used during the process. The ability to coat materials with complex shapes, using environmentally friendly chemicals, and being a cost-effective process are the prominent advantages of this method. In the scope of this study, the formation of bioactive and antibacterial oxide coatings on the surface of titanium and its alloys was carried out via MAO process. In the first chapter of the thesis, it was aimed to produce multi-layer bioactive and antibacterial coatings on the commercially pure titanium (grade 4 quality, Cp-Ti) surface, which is frequently preferred in biomedical applications, by applying the MAO process. For this purpose, samples were subjected to a base electrolyte (which is containing calcium acetate hydrate (Ca(CH3COO)2.H2O) and disodium hydrogen phosphate (Na2HPO4)) during the MAO process. To obtain antibacterial properties on the coating surface silver acetate (AgC2H3O2) was added into the base electrolyte (the amount of silver (Ag) on the coating was measured as 4.6 wt.%). After the MAO process, a multi-layered oxide coating consisting of TiO2 (dense rutile-anatase phases) on the inner layer, and biocompatible compounds such as hydroxyapatite (HA) and calcium titanate (CaTiO3) just above oxide layer was obtained. It was observed that MAO treated samples in the base electrolyte formed biomimetic apatite structure faster in the simulated body fluid (SBF), as well as showed higher antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria. It has been determined that the addition of AgC2H3O2 to the base electrolyte increased the antibacterial activity of the samples without sacrificing bioactivity. In the second chapter of the thesis, optimization of AgC2H3O2 amount which had been added into the base electrolyte was studied in order to avoid toxic effect of Ag without sacrificing the antibacterial effect. The MAO process has been conducted in the base electrolyte containing Na2HP04 and Ca(CH3COO)2.H2O and AgC2H3O2 was added at different concentrations. Samples treated with an electrolyte containing 0.005 mol/L AgC2H3O2 concentration showed poor antibacterial activity against S. aureus bacteria, while samples treated with the electrolyte containing 0.001 and 0.002 mol/L Ag concentrations was determined strong antibacterial activity. Based on these results, considering the possible toxic effect of Ag, 0.001 mol/L AgC2H3O2 concentration into the base electrolyte is sufficient for MAO process. It was determined that used optimum AgC2H3O2 concentration into the base electrolyte caused 1.14% Ag on the oxide coating surface after MAO process. Cell culture experiments were performed using SAOS-2 (a human primary osteogenic sarcoma cell line) to understand the effect of the amount of silver measured from the coating surface on the cell. As a result, it was observed that the amount of Ag determined in the oxide coating did not prevent cell growth however retarted it and also showed high antibacterial efficiency against S. aureus bacteria. In the third chapter of the thesis, after determining the optimum amount of AgC2H3O2 concentration in the base electrolyte containing Ca(CH3COO)2.H2O and Na2HPO4 in the previous section, the biological properties of the oxide coating formed in the MAO process using Ti6Al4V alloy were investigated by biofilm formation and cell culture experiments. After adding 0.001 mol/L AgC2H3O2 to the base electrolyte during the MAO process, it was determined that there was 0.76 wt.% Ag on the oxide coating surface. It was observed that the alloying elements in the Ti6Al4V alloy effect the structure of the oxide coating formed by the MAO process conditions. The low amount of Ag measured from the coating surface was explained by the precipitation of Ag particles mostly around the pores of the thick TiO2 layer, and the formation of a thick HA layer on it. The presence of Ag particles between TiO2 and HA layer effected Ag release behavior in simulated body fluid (SBF). Compared with Ag-free coatings, the presence of 0.76 wt. % Ag in oxide coatings exhibited antibacterial activity to some extent against Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) bacteria and did not adversely effect the proliferation of SAOS-2 cells. However, in order to obtain enhanced antibacterial efficiency, higher amount of silver must be incorporated into the MAO coating. In the fourth chapter of the thesis, the structural features, Ag release behavior and bioactivity of HT treated oxide layer with different amounts of Ag nanoparticles formed via MAO process on Ti6Al7Nb alloy have been investigated. While MAO process was applied in the base electrolyte (containing (Ca(CH3COO)2.H2O) and (Na2HPO4)) with and without the addition of AgC2H3O2 to obtain oxide layer, HT treatment was performed in an alkaline solution (pH = 11) at 230 ºC to improve bioactivity. After the MAO process, HA structure with a low degree of crystallinity and TiO2 layer containing rutile and anatase structures was formed on the surface. Nano-sized Ag particles were detected on the coatings formed over Ag incorporated oxide coatings. Moreover, higher AgC2H3O2 concentration in the base electrolyte caused a higher number of Ag nano-particles in the MAO coating. Afterwards, application of the HT treatment fabricated an 1-2 m thick exterior surface layer that is composed of nano-rod TiO2 and hexagonal HA crystal morphologies on oxide surface and increased degree of HA crystallinity. When samples treated with MAO and MAO+HT are compared, it was observed that HT treatment not only accelerated biomimetic apatite accumulation on Ti6Al7Nb alloy but it also eliminated the negative effect of Ag, which delayed the apatite formation on the MAO coatings. In addition, unlike the oxide coatings formed with MAO, HT treatment considerably reduced the amount of Ag released from the oxide coating into the SBF solution. As a result, thick, microporous and multi-layered oxide coatings containing bioactive components have been successfully produced on the surface of titanium and its alloys, which are frequently prefered in implant applications. Generally, various additives such as ions or particles can be introduced into the electrolyte to fabricate antibacterial oxide coatings with biocampatible properties via MAO process. Within the scope of the thesis, studies have shown that oxide coatings which were fabricated using different amount of Ag agent in the base electrolyte exhibited antibacterial efficiency on bacterial cultures and bioactive components support the bioactivity. Especially in obtaining antibacterial coatings, the importance of Ag agent amount in the base electrolyte has been demonstrated by antibacterial tests. In addition to the MAO process, when MAO process is combined with HT treatment, it is possible to fabricate highly bioactive surfaces without obtaining multi-layered coatings on the substrates. Moreover, Ag agent has been introduced into the oxide coating to give antibacterial properties to the surface. The Ag agents and their amounts is still one of the biggest concerns for health. In the future studies, the living body applications (in vivo) will guide the evaluation and development of short and long term effects of TiO2 based bioactive and antibacterial coatings fabricated with MAO process and HT treatment.
Development of interlayer based thin-film nanofibrous composite membranes adjusted by functionalized carbon nanotubes for effectual water purification

(Graduate School, 2022-01-20) Arabi, Seyedehnegar ; Gökoğlu Zeytuncu, Bihter ; 513191019 ; Nano Science and Nano Engineering ; Nano Bilim ve Nano Mühendislik

Drinkable water supply is one of the fundamental human prerequisites all over the world. Due to the population expansion, the changes in the global climate, and water degradation, The requirement for freshwater increases with time around the world. Based on the reported calculations, except for 2.5% of existence global water, which is classified in the potable water range for humans, 70% of the remaining freshwater (FW) is frozen. Due to recent reports, more than 700 million people worldwide have not been accessed clean water. Ascribed to the severe FW demands, which have been observed in some developing countries and sub-Saharan African countries, the water treatment technologies must be enforced in these overwhelmed countries. Nanoscience and nanotechnology are other novel solutions to water treatment technology problems. Ascribed to nanomaterials properties, including high aspect ratio, reactivity, adjustable pore volume, hydrophilic, hydrophobic, and electrostatic interactions, they have been utilized in numerous types of applications. Multiple types of batteries, optics, fuel cells, sensors, electrics, thermoelectric devices, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics are some industries that have used nanomaterials to improve their products. Moreover, nanotechnology has been performed in economically unconventional water sources, resolving contaminant-free water for humans, and suggesting many solutions to alleviate needs with regard to reducing scarcity or removing contamination. For example, there are filters that remove pesticides from drinking water using nanochemistry. At the same time, due to the multidisciplinary feature of membrane technology and essential advantages of membrane science technology, such as being clean energy, the ability of energy-saving, high-quality products, and system versatility, it has been applied in multiple applications. The power of membrane technology to replace other purification systems, including distillation and ion exchange systems, has been distinguished as other membrane technology's benefits. Furthermore, because of the forward osmosis (FO) and nanofiltration (NF), membranes' excellent features such as energy conversion, low-cost procedure, and high water recovery ability have received much more attention in wastewater treatment, water purification, and brackish water desalination over the last decade. The electrospinning device generally consists of a high voltage power supply, a supply unit, and a grounded collector. The feed solution is sent to the feed end by a pump. An electric field is created by a high-voltage power supply connected to the supply terminal. As the applied voltage increases, the electrical forces overcome the viscoelastic forces of the solution at the feed end. After a critical voltage, a jet formation is observed at the supply end. The bubbler solution diffuses in the electrical field and accumulates randomly on the collecting plate in microscopic diameter fibers. The solvent in the solution evaporates before or after the fibers are collected in the container. Among the factors affecting the nanofiber production by electrospinning method are the type of polymer to be obtained, conductivity and dielectric properties, the solvent used, the viscosity of the feed solution, the distance between the feed unit and the collector, the feed rate (flow rate), the voltage used. More than 100 polymers can be electrospinning, and the most preferred among these polymers in nanofiber membrane construction are; polyacrylonitrile (PAN), poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), polystyrene (PS), Nylon-6, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and polycarbonate. PVA is a water-soluble, non-toxic, and biocompatible polyhydroxy polymer with high chemical resistance and thermal stability among these polymers. It is known that PVA easily interacts with other organic and inorganic materials. However, PVA's applications are limited due to its hydrophilic nature. Therefore, it must be modified to minimize dissolution, mainly used in aqueous applications such as filtration and adsorption. Chemical crosslinking of PVA nanofibers with dialdehydes, dicarboxylic acids, or dianhydride is advantageous in becoming insoluble in all solvents and increasing their thermal and chemical properties. Polymeric thin-film composites are essential types of compounds applied in various practical applications, including surface coatings and modifications, adsorption and immobilization, membrane technologies, and low surface energy interfaces. Also, the inherent internal concentration polarization (ICP), which causes osmotic driving force's decline, is another major problem of conventional TFC membranes which has been challenged for several years. Moreover, biological fouling is another disadvantage that limits the conventional TFC membranes' performance in multiple usages. Due to the biological fouling of TFC type membranes, microorganisms and micropollutants, which require reproduction, easily stick to the membrane's surface and cause a significant reduction of FO membranes' stability and durability. In order to break the trade-off between permeability and selectivity of TFC membranes and obtain membranes with balanced permeability and rejection performance and excellent durability, triple-layered thin film composite (TFC) forward osmosis (FO) membranes fabricated by introducing an interlayer on the porous electrospun membranes before interfacial polymerization (IP) procedure. Introducing an interlayer on the electrospun substrate overcomes the conventional TFC membranes' limitations and causes synthesizing controlled polyamide (PA) layer and improving the IP process. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), cellulose nanocrystal, and cadmium hydroxide nano-strands are some of the nanomaterials that have been introduced as an interlayer in TFC types of membranes. The adopted interlayers develop the barrier selective layer's structure and control the IP procedure. Due to the CNT's ideal characteristics, such as large specific surface area (SSA) and excellent mechanical stability, CNTs are distinguished as superior nanomaterials that have been performed as interlayers in TFC membranes. Triple-layered TFC membranes with CNT interlayer enhance the PA layer formation with defect-free and ultrathin structure and promote the membrane's permeation ability, even rejecting monovalent and divalent ions. The membranes were utilized in this research are thin-film nanofibrous composite membranes with hydrolyzed multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as an interlayer. First of all, MWCNTs had been acid-treated in the presence of sulfuric (H2SO4) and nitric (HNO3) acids. Secondly, the different amounts of hydrolyzed MWCNTs were dispersed in the distilled water using ultrasonication and then introduced as an interlayer onto the porous polyacrylonitrile (PAN) electrospun membranes by vacuum filtration procedure. Finally, TFC membranes were prepared to utilize the IP procedure. In this study, MPD and TMC solutions had been performed as aqueous and organic phases to begin the IP proceeding. The prepared membranes had been tested in dead-end filtration systems to investigate the membranes' performance in salt rejections. Also, these interlayer-based TFC membranes had been applied in the dye removal from industrial wastewaters and compared to the conventional TFC type of membranes in their filtration performance.
Development of microfluidic based single cell capturing systems for early detection of diseases

(Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü, 2020) Altınağaç, Emre ; Kızıl, Hüseyin ; 650348 ; Nanobilim ve Nanomühendislik Ana Bilim Dalı

It is known that cancer cells in the bloodstream are quite low compared to other cells in the blood. Microfluidic based systems have been studied for diagnosis, follow-up of the disease and new drug tests to be performed on this disease. A microfluidic based system with two successive regions for separation and analysis has been developed. In the first region, the target cell type is differentiated from a complex mixture containing multiple cells by dielectrophoresis, which allows an insulating particle to be polarized under an electric field. Since different cell types can be polarized at different rates under the same electric field, this method allows the separation of the cells from each other under suitable conditions. In this study, a microfluidic system consists of two consecutive regions, namely the separation and analysis regions are demonstrated. In the first region, the target cell type is separated by dielectrophoresis from a complex cell mixture. The target cells collected in the first region are continuously transferred to the second region and are captured in a single cell array formation at the hydrodynamic capture stations placed on the measuring electrodes. Impedance analysis was performed to establish a platform for detection and drug screening. While both regions were integrated on a single chip in the final device, each region were examined separately during our study. The results of impedance analysis obtained from different cells based on different medium conductivities with a frequency range of 0.1kHz – 500kHz are presented here. We recorded impedance measurements at stations where cells were individually captured before and after cell entrapment. Experimental results are divided into cases where the conductivity of the medium is higher and lower than the cell conductance. Overall magnitude of impedance shift is significantly higher when the medium conductivity is lower than the cell conductance. When all results are evaluated, it can be seen that depending on the target cell type, an optimum medium conductivity and frequency range can be selected so as to obtain the measurement result with the highest sensitivity. A microfluidic cell culture platform, named as organ-on-a-chip in the literature, has been increasingly studied over the last few years to mimic tissue and organ-level physiology, containing a membrane with a continuous and porous structure inhabited by living cells, and with microfluidic channels to mimic the mechanical effects and to supply the necessary nutrients. These platforms create tissue and organ environments that are not possible with traditional 2D or 3D culture systems, and enable real time imaging and analysis of biochemical, genetic and metabolic activities of living cells. In this project, present fabrication techniques of microfluidic devices are used for the fabrication of organ-on-a-chip platforms. The tissue structure was imitated by coating a single-layer cell on the upper and lower sides of the membrane in the structures of the renal chip tubules and lung alveoli on organ-on-a-chip platforms. The cell viability was characterized by MTT test and the cell viability was maintained by providing oxygen, carbon dioxide and nutrient exchange under incubation conditions by means of nutrient medium flow provided into the upper and lower channels, and the barrier property of the cell tissue was measured by electrical resistance (TEER) measurements. The viability of the renal tubules cultured in the microfluidic system between 0-48 hours was recorded by MTT assay. TEER results showed that the tight-junctions of cell tissue were different under static and dynamic conditions in the kidney-on-chip systems. The results obtained by MTT test to measure cell viability were in agreement with TEER and the viability of kidney cells was higher in 48 hours under dynamic conditions compared to static conditions. With the successful culturing of two different cell types under static conditions in lung-on-chip systems, their viability and cell barrier resistance values were recorded by TEER measurement for 0-48 hours. The results obtained by MTT test and TEER measurements showed that lung cells under shear stress and mechanical stress had higher viability than cells under static conditions.
Development of SAW sensors coated with metal organic framework and borophene for detection of Covid-19

(Graduate School, 2023-06-05) Albay, Maide Miray ; Zayim, Esra ; 513191025 ; Nano Science and Nano Engineering

The rapid and accurate detection of COVID-19 biomarkers is critical for the early diagnosis and effective treatment of the disease. In this study, surface acoustic wave (SAW) biosensors coated with metal-organic framework (MOF) and borophene layers were developed to detect COVID-19 biomarker gases, including isopropyl alcohol, n-butyraldehyde, acetone, and ethyl butyrate. In addition, the gas measurement system includes ethanol and n-hexane, which are already present in human exhaled air. The objective of this study is to investigate the response of different MOFs and borophene to these biomarker gases and to determine the optimal sensing material for COVID-19 biomarker detection. Seven different materials are coated onto SAW sensors using the drop-casting method as sensing layer. These materials include borophene, MIL-101 (Fe), MIL-101 (Fe)-Borophene, MIL-125, MIL-125-Borophene, MOF-5, and MOF-5-Borophene. They are selected based on their distinct metal components and their potential for detecting COVID-19 biomarker gases. When choosing MOFs, it is preferred to use MOFs that have same organic ligand but a different metal in their center. It is aimed at comparing metal effects and other results related to metal effects. Sensing molecules are characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis. SEM is employed for analyzing the thickness and roughness of coating films on SAW sensors. To examine the sensor's frequency change, a gas measurement system in TÜBİTAK MAM is employed. This system is for the preparation of gas mixtures at different concentrations and humidity levels, which are then sent to the surface of the sensors at room temperature with a constant flow rate. In addition to measuring the change in resonance frequency of the transducer device, the electrical conductivity of the surface is simultaneously measured under related gases to determine the influence of electrical conductivity on sensor performance. Results are processed using MATLAB to read, compare, and perform principal component analysis (PCA). The results of the gas sensing experiments show that the MOFs have a better response to the COVID-19 biomarker without borophene. MOFs also exhibited good selectivity for the target gases. This suggests that these sensors could be used for selective detection of COVID-19 biomarkers in a mixed environment. Keywords:surface acoustic wave(SAW) sensors, metal organic frameworks (MOFs), volatile organic compounds(VOCs), biomarkers, COVID-19
Fabrication and characterization of novel membranes for battery separator applications

(Graduate School, 2023-05-26) Ahmetoğlu, Ubey ; Kılıç, Ali ; 513201024 ; Nanoscience and Nanoengineering

With the prospering industry of electrical mobility, the need for high-performance batteries and energy sources is on the rise. The demand on efficient and safe batteries has exponentially increased. In general, batteries consist of three main critical components; anode, cathode and a separator. While anode and cathode are the active parts in charge and power generation, battery separators are the non-active insulative part. They are a porous structure that allows the passage of ions back and forth while they are made of inherently electrically insulative materials that prohibits the contact of the two poles preventing any short circuit possibility. Battery separators can be made of several materials and substances and carry several key properties. They can be made of any porous insulative material with defined pore size and porosity for their intended application. Along their porous structure, they should carry high chemical stability, strong integrity, and stability under elevating temperatures. Since there are various reactions occurring inside a battery which may lead to an increase in the cell temperature, several approaches are used to fabricate battery separators with high thermal stability and flame retardancy. Among these approaches, coating the separator with inherently flame-retardant materials is a common method. Sodium alginate, as a natural polysaccharide, that shows significant flame retardancy performance when crosslinked with calcium. Cross-linked calcium alginate is reported to exhibit a limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 34. Several polymers are used to fabricate the battery separator. Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is widely used in battery separator applications due to its high mechanical strength and chemical stability. Film casting is a process widely used to fabricate battery separators. In the wet process film casting, UHMWPE is melt-mixed with a low molecular weight diluent (also called porogen) and casted through a film die before its conveyed into stretching and extraction steps to obtain final porous membrane. Another type of common separator is the nanofiber-based. They can be fabricated via several methods including centrifugal spinning, where a rotor is ejecting the polymeric solution into fibers while rotating at very high speeds. The aim of this thesis is to fabricate lithium and sodium ion battery separators with different fabrication methods and enhance their thermal performance by coating them with calcium alginate. Film casting and centrifugal spinning processes were used to obtain two different membrane structures from two different polymers. In the film casting process, UHMWPE was mixed with paraffin oil (PO) then melted and extruded through a twin-screw extruder (TSE). 30% UHMWPE, 70% PO, and 1% antioxidant mixture was prepared. The temperature of the 6 heating zones and die was held at 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, and 180℃ respectively. The screw rotating speed was held constant at 35rpm. The melt blend was cast through a stripe die with a thickness of 3 mm. The obtained sheets were hot pressed at 180℃ and 8 tons of load for 8 minutes then cooled down to room temperature. The final film thickness obtained was in the range of 200-400μm. Optimization experiments were conducted on the samples to study the effect of different stretching ratios, the importance of extraction step order, the effect of the constrained and nonconstrained uniaxial stretching, and the effect of heating distance between the sample and the stretching machine. It was found that the extraction of the oil after stretching led to a smaller and more uniform pore size in comparison to bigger pores formed when the oil was extracted before stretching. Heating of the samples in the stretching machine was done with the open system using thermal irradiators. Distances of 13.5, 16.5, and 19.5cm were studied. Heaters caused the film to melt fastly and close the pores formed at close distances while at 19.5cm the heating wasn't enough to initiate any pores. The films are then stretched with a custom-made uniaxial stretching machine, where pore formation is initiated. Two stretching ratios were applied; 2×1.5 and 4×1.5. Higher stretching ratios showed the closure of pores. The optimum parameters were found to be a 1.5×2 constrained stretching ratio with a 16.5 cm heating distance and 110℃ heating temperature. After that three Samples (S1, S2, and S3) were fabricated and hot pressed into three thicknesses of 280, 200, and 280μm. These samples are then stretched and annealed to obtain samples of three final thicknesses of 40, 60, and 80μm. Finally, these samples are immersed in n-hexane to extract the oil and obtain the desired porous structure and the final membrane. These membranes are then put in a coin cell configuration and tested for sodium ion (Na-ion) battery separator performance. The ionic conductivities of S1, S2, and S3 samples are 0.09, 0.48, and 0.04mS/cm2 respectively. The S2 sample showed better performance in comparison to other samples due to its higher porosity and uniform pore distribution. Nanofibrous membrane on the other hand was fabricated from thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) by centrifugal spinning process. TPU was dissolved in dimethylformamide (DMF)/acetone mixture and spun into nanofibers. Optimization of the process was done by altering the polymer concentration, solvent ratios, needle diameter (gauge), and rotating speeds. The optimum nanofibers were obtained at 10% TPU dissolved in a 2:1 DMF/acetone ratio with 30G needle diameter and 13,000 rpm rotating speed. Obtained nanofibers were treated with sodium alginate which was then crosslinked with calcium chloride (CaCl2). After Calcium Alginate (Ca-alg, CA) treatment, the samples were hot pressed at 120℃ and 8 tonnes of load for 2 minutes. Treatment with CA enhances the thermal performance of the separators. The obtained coated nanofibrous membranes were then put into coin cell configuration with 1M LiPF6 and 1M NaClO4 electrolytes and its performance was measured. These membranes were tested for sodium ion (Na-ion) and lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. The nanofibrous membranes exhibited significantly better performance when compared to the commercial Celgard 2500 polypropylene (PP) separator. The ionic conductivities of the neat TPU, pressed TPU, 0.5 TPU, and 2 TPU were 0.23, 0.67, 0.17, 0.16, and 0.05 mS/cm2 respectively. The coated samples exhibited significantly larger ionic conductivity numbers and lower resistance values in comparison to the commercial PP separator. In full cell configuration, where anode and cathode are used, the samples exhibited the same trend with neat TPU performing better than other samples. The ionic conductivities of the full-cell samples were 1.53, 0.19, 0.05, and 0.03 mS/cm2 respectively. The drop in the ionic conductivities of the samples can be referred to as the effect of coating the samples which leads to pore closure. This led to the domination of the diffusion phenomena in the samples which was demonstrated by the straight line in the Nyquist plot. In terms of thermal performance, significant enhancement was achieved. On the other hand, when these samples were examined for Li-ion separator tests, the ionic conductivities of Neat TPU, 0.5 TPU, 2 TPU, and PP separators were 0.10, 0.21, 0.09, and 0.07mS/cm2 respectively. The 0.5 TPU sample showed the best performance and proved that calcium alginate can enhance the chemical performance of the separator. The coated samples showed 0% shrinkage in comparison to 63% and 100% shrinkage of the neat TPU and commercial samples. The samples also showed significant fire retardation when exposed to flame source. A comparison between the condition of the samples after 1 and 10 seconds was recorded. Neat and pressed samples melted directly within the first seconds, while the treated 0.5 TPU and 2 TPU samples kept their integrity. 0.5 TPU sample showed marks of burning and its color started turning into brownish while the 2 TPU sample kept its initial state even after 10 seconds. The obtained results showed the high potential calcium alginate carries in battery applications. Studies to enhance the ionic conductivities of the calcium alginate can be conducted and better integrating methods can be proposed.
Fabrication of multi-component superparamagnetic nanoparticles and magnetic heating performance for hyperthermia cancer therapy

(Graduate School, 2021-02-16) Çetin, Ayşesimay ; Kılıç, Ali ; 513171012 ; Nanoscience and Nanoengineering

Nowadays, cancer has become a major public health problem worldwide. It is known that 19.3 million new cancer cases and approximately 10 million cancer deaths occurred worldwide in 2020 alone. The TUIK 2020 report, the cancer is in second place with 80,186 people in Turkey ranking of causes of death. Traditional methods such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery do not give highly successful results in cancer stages that have spread in the body. These treatment methods carry fatal risks by damaging healthy tissues depending on the treatment method in the patient. For this reason, various treatment methods have been developed that are expected to affect only damaged tissue. Hyperthermia is one of the methods developed for this purpose. Multilayer functional superparamagnetic nanoparticles (NPs) are used in the method, which can be used in medical imaging and treatment applications. With these NPs, it is tried to develop the use of optical and magnetic methods for both diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Thanks to a dielectric shell coated on the NPs, its agglomeration can be prevented, and thanks to an organic shell coated on it, its properties such as biocompatibility and stability can be increased, as well as various molecule adhesion capabilities for treatment purposes can be given to the surfaces of the NPs. In addition to the magnetic properties of these NPs, it will be possible to heat them with the near infrared (NIR) laser to be applied due to their surface plasmon resonance properties. Basically in this method; It is aimed to; (a) reach the denaturation temperature (42ºC) of the cancer cells by applying an alternative magnetic field that will affect only the tumor area, and (b) the malignant cells are destroyed by heating while the other healthy tissues remain stable. In this way, the side effects that occur in traditional methods are tried to be minimized. The two most important factors determining the use of magnetic NPs in hyperthermia therapy are; (a) the applied NPs must have a high ability to heat the cancerous tissue to the desired temperature and (b) heating should be limited only to the cancerous tissue. These two factors can be achieved by having excellent magnetic properties that can reach the target temperature by using a small amount of NPs in the target tissue. For this reason, the type of magnetic NPs used and their magnetic heating performance are of great importance. Studies on various NPs such as Fe3O4, MnFe2O4 are quite common, but it becomes impossible to compare the experimental results due to the different methods and different environmental conditions determined for NPs fabrication in the studies. Therefore, more research is needed to make hyperthermia treatment available. In the thesis, in the first part, Fe3O4, MgFe2O4, MnFe2O4 and SrFe12O19 NPs were synthesiszed as cores. Later, their outher surface was first coated with SiO2 layer, functionalized with amination, then decorated via Au NPs and consequently the outer surface of overall NPs will be coated via PEG. After each coating, the NPs have been characterized using FTIR, SEM and EDX. Heating process was carried out under AMF, using induction generator, in water and in agar according to the rate calculation of 0.1% (v/m) of the produced NPs. According to the results of the heating tests, among all samples, SrFe12O19 NPs showed the lowest and MgFe2O4 NPs showed the highest heating performance among all samples in the tests where different core types were compared. According to the heating results comparing the different coating stages, the aminated NPs gave the fastest warming result among the other coating stages. Comparing different coating steps, PEG coated samples gave the slowest heating result in the heating results. In addition, the heating performance of gold-coated samples, which is the previous coating step from PEG, is very close to that of PEG coated samples and gave the second lowest performance. As a result, our study has shown that different coating stages and NPs differences change the heating performance of superparamagnetic NPs. Although there are many studies of magnetic NPs in the literature, the effects of different types of magnetic NPs on the heating performance of different coating stages of these NPs were compared under standardized laboratory conditions. It is possible to say that this study, which is carried out with easily accessible and economical laboratory materials, is illuminating for future researches related to the subject.
Fabrication of nanostructured metal oxide materials and their use in energy and environmental applications

( 2020) Çalışır, Mehmet Durmuş ; Kılıç, Ali ; 634370 ; Nanobilim ve Nanomühendislik Ana Bilim Dalı

Metal oxides are considered to be the most vital material class and they show unique chemical, physical and electronic properties when produced on the nanometer scale. In this context, metal oxide nanomaterials are of increasing importance in many industries and are used in applications such as sensors, medical technologies, energy, water treatment, and personal care products. In this thesis, the fabrication of nanostructured metal oxide materials and their use in energy and environmental applications which have strategic and vital importance are focused. The optimization of process parameters for the production of metal oxide nanostructures via industrial-scale production methods and application-oriented modifications of the properties of metal oxides via controlling their size and composition have been realized. Solar energy is an environmentally friendly technology that allows direct energy production from the sun. Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have been studied intensively in the last decade and they constitute the energy leg of this thesis. In this context, the effects of metal oxide nanomaterials on perovskite cells performance were investigated. The performance of planar and mesostructured PSCs was compared, while all the experimental studies for the production of highly-efficient PSCs were given in detail. The mesoporous architecture allows the deposition of denser perovskite films than planar architecture due to the high porosity. Though higher efficiency was expected due to effective absorption of incoming light, XRD results showed that PbI2 - perovskite conversion in the mesoporous structure was more difficult. The average efficiency of the cells produced with mesoporous architecture was 15.07 %, which was just 0.9 % higher than the planar one. As can be deduced from the absorbance curves and IPCE analysis, this is because of the mesoporous structure showing more absorbance in the 400-600 nm wavelength range resulting in more photocurrent. However, due to the small difference in efficiency and fewer steps in the planar architecture, it was found more viable for industrial scale-up. Air pollution is one of the most critical environmental problems today, and filtration is one of the practical solutions to remove the pollutants, especially particulate matter within the air. However, exhaust gases might be at high temperatures and require high-temperature resistant filter materials. The use of ceramic-based, fibrous filter elements in filtration applications will enable the production of highly efficient filters with high-temperature stability. In this context, SiO2 nanofibrous mats were produced from sol-gel based solutions via centrifugal spinning (CS) and solution blowing (SB) methods. According to results, centrifugally spun SiO2 fibers were found more flexible where fibers have diameters between 1 and 1.5 microns. Solution blown silica fibrous mats consisted of thinner fibers but have denser bead and droplet defects. Besides, due to the fibrous mats obtained by SB had a dense-packed structure it showed more shrinkage during heat treatment. XRD results show that all fibers have an amorphous SiO2 structure after heat treatment at 600°C. According to the porosity analysis, the solution blown and centrifugally spun SiO2 samples had the lowest pore diameters of 5.2 and 10.5 microns, respectively. Moreover, the effects of SiO2 precursor solution concentration on spinnability in the CS method, the diameter of SiO2 fibers, and filtration efficiency were investigated. Contrary to expectations, the average diameter of the fibers has been found to decrease with increasing precursor concentration a result of reduced viscosity of the spinning solution. While all the produced fibers are incredibly flexible, the highest filtration efficiency (43.35 Pa pressure drop and 75% particle capture efficiency) was obtained from the sample that produced from 15 wt.% TEOS added solution. Due to excellent thermal stability and high mechanical performance of centrifugally spun SiO2 fibrous mats they have the potential as filter materials for hot air filtration applications. Photocatalyst-based purification techniques emerge as a solution for recovery of used water. While the studies focused on the development of photocatalyst material with visible light activity, there is also a need for the development of photocatalyst geometries that can be easily separated from treated water. Although nanoparticulate morphology offers high surface area, it is difficult to remove them from treated water. On the other hand, TiO2 is one of the most studied materials among the photocatalysts due to its high photocatalytic activity, photostability, chemical inertness, and low-cost. TiO2 fibers were fabricated via CS and subsequent calcination methods. The effects of precursor concentrations on fiber diameter, surface area, and photocatalytic activity were investigated. Results showed that the fiber diameter was increased from 0.65 to 1.2 µm with increasing precursor content. The calcined fibers consisted mainly of anatase and also a minor amount of rutile phases. PVP used as the carrier polymer for precursor solution also behaved as a nitrogen source for TiO2 fibers during calcination. The slight shift of peaks in XRD, the presence of nitrogen in XPS spectrum and EDX mapping, and the enhanced visible-light photocatalytic response were pieces of evidence for in-situ N-doped TiO2 NFs. Besides, nanoparticles (P25 NPs) were added into the spinning solution to increase the surface area by producing nanoparticle in nanofiber structure, and it was also used as a reference sample. According to the results of photocatalysis tests, the surface area is the dominant factor for photocatalysis under UV illumination and the optical bandgap is the critical factor for the tests performed under visible light illumination. Moreover, recycle analysis showed that fibrous photocatalysts were easily separated from the treated water. In this regard, the fibrous TiO2 was emphasized as the best visible-light photocatalyst, losing only 14% of its degradation performance after the 3rd use. The effect of Al and Li doping on the crystallinity, fiber diameter, optical bandgap, and photocatalytic activity of TiO2 fibers was investigated in the last part of this thesis. Al and Li doped N-TiO2 fibers were successfully produced via CS method and followed calcination. N- TiO2 showed a fiber diameter of 0.54 µm while Al- and Li-doped N- TiO2 had a diameter of 0.94 and 1.15 nm, respectively. While the crystal structure of N-TiO2 transformed from major anatase and minor rutile phases to the only anatase in the case of Al- and major rutile and minor anatase phases in the case of Li-doped N-TiO2. Additionally, band gap values were calculated as 3.00, 2.94, and 3.14 eV for N- TiO2, Li- and Al-doped N- TiO2, respectively. For the photocatalysis tests conducted under UV-light, the most efficient sample was the nanoparticulate TiO2 due to its high surface areas, while all-fibrous structures showed similar activities, which were nearly two times higher than the activity of nanoparticulate TiO2 under visible-light.
Formation and structural properties of water induced structures at graphene/mica and graphene/CrxO/glass interfaces

(Graduate School, 2021-10-08) Novruzov, Orkhan ; Gürlü, Oğuzhan ; 513171019 ; Nano Science and Nano Engineering ; Nano Bilim ve Nano Mühendislik

Water behavior at interfaces has great importance. Especially molecularly thin layer water or nanoconfined water. Nanoconfined water properties are different from bulk ones. Studying nanoconfined water properties have fundamental importance in biology, material science, nanofluidics, tribology, and corrosion. Nanoconfiment materials are carbon nanotubes and layered two-dimensional materials or Van der Waals crystals. In this thesis, we studied water interaction behavior with graphene/water/CrxOy/glass and graphene/mica systems. For this purpose, we needed the following devices: Optic microscope with the isolated system, PVD system, graphene heater, and materials like CVD-grown graphene, muscovite mica, soda-lime glass, and chromium granulates. Firstly, we started with graphene/water/CrxOy/glass system. We did thermal evaporation of chromium using PVD system that was assembled in our laboratory. As a substrate, we used soda lime microscope slide glass(INTROLAB). Chromium thin-film on glass samples was produced. The thickness of thin-film chromium was varied. We transferred CVD-grown graphene onto chromium thin-film glass with the wet transfer method, then annealed it in a tube furnace around 450°C degrees under atmospheric ambient conditions for approximately 40 minutes. As soon as annealing finished we quickly transferred produced sample into a container full of silica gels to preserve from environmental humidity. We reduced humidity within enclosed boxes in which an Optical light microscope stayed for study samples under controlled humidification. We took optic data before, during, and after the humidification process. Secondly, our second system for research was graphene/water/mica. Again as in the graphene/water/CrxOy/glass system, we used CVD-grown graphene and V2grade muscovite mica(Ted Pella). Using scotch tape we cleavage mica several times then CVD-grown graphene was transferred onto it using the wet transfer method. We preserve graphene/mica samples in a container full of silica gels. We studied them with two methods: First under the optic microscope in the isolated box and second using the graphene heater. We reduced humidity to 9% in the isolated box using silica. In the case of the graphene heater, we managed to heat up nearly 200°C. We observed fractal in graphene/CrxOy/glass system but due to non-homogeneous deposition of chromium fractal formation was inconsistent. In case of graphene/mica system observation of de/rewetting process was not possible even though we reduce humidity. The graphene heater was functional, the reason that we couldn't use it was a poorer resolution of the graphene/mica system. Otherwise, observation de/rewetting graphene/water/mica with the optic microscope is challenging.
Graphene oxide/calcium titanate composite preparation for humidity sensing by quartz crystal microbalance

(Graduate School, 2022-09-06) Demirtaş, Zeynep ; Benli, Birgül ; 513201037 ; Nanoscience and Nanoengineering

Humidity measurement has been taking attention since 1900s because of the fact that it is used in various aspects from weather forecasts to food and human safety, agricultural processes to mineral processing facilities. Therefore, there has been a growing requirement and extensive research on designing humidity sensors that are rapid, cost-effective, and highly sensitive. Although various methods have been developed, the Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) is a very promising candidate, as it has excellent sensitivity to changes in mass with a nanogram level of detection and, an extensive measuring range. In addition, QCM sensors are stable and reliable in mild operation conditions and can be developed with low-cost. However, the quality and the properties of sensors are highly dependent on the additional sensitive layer. Thus, an additional sensing layer on the surface of QCM electrodes is required to improve the sensor performance including selectivity, sensitivity, response/recovery time and stability. The sensing layer is one of the most important parameters that affects sensing properties of QCM. In literature, there are numerous studies for using different single component containing materials as sensing layer for humidity measurement. On the other hand, the combination of two or more materials, composites, is necessary to obtain improved sensing properties. For humidity sensing, the composite material can be made either with an additional porous material to enhance the interactions with water molecules or with an additional humidity sensitive material to increase the overall humidity sensitivity. Graphene oxide, a two-dimensional material with excellent physical properties, is an excellent candidate for humidity measurement because of the hydrophilic groups on its surface that ensure the adsorption of water molecules. In addition, the use of an additional nanostructured material as calcium titanate can improve the sensitivity by increasing the surface area to volume ratio. In this thesis, the preparation and coating properties of graphene oxide/calcium titanate composite-based material was investigated for the first time in literature. GO was obtained from graphite powder by using a modified Hummer's method. Calcium titanate particles were synthesized by sol-gel method. After the production of two different materials separately, they blended to obtain the composite material. Characterization analyses were performed for optical, structural, and morphological properties of graphene oxide, calcium titanate and graphene oxide/calcium titanate composite materials. The obtained results confirm that a successful production of the composite material was achieved.
Mixed-anion photochromic yttrium oxyhydride and gadolinium oxyhydride: Research and applications

(Graduate School, 2021-02-04) Baba, Elbruz Murat ; Zayim, Esra ; Karazhanov, Smagul ; 513152002 ; Nano Science and Nano Engineering ; Nano Bilim ve Nano Mühendislik

are-earth metal oxides and hydrides are the focal point in literature, promising various high demand solutions in industry and everyday life. Recently, a multi-functional, multi-anion material class called "rare-earth metal oxyhydrides" were shown to be synthesized as a thin film under ambient temperatures with photochromic properties. Oxyhydrides present high level of flexibility for material development through various combination possibilities having multi-anions. The newly realized possibility of ambient temperature thin film synthesis possibility of rare-earth metal oxyhydrides attracted high attention from literature but, there is little to no data is available in conventional databases for rare-earth oxyhydrides. Combination of the oxyhydrides being an under-developed class of materials and the promise of presenting important solutions for a high demanding era we live in, oxyhydrides is an excellent topic to research. In 2011, the synthesis of yttrium hydride thin film in room temperature with wide-spectrum transparency using only one step deposition process was shown. Originally, this research started to search for an alternative material for solar cells but, evolved into another dimension when the material was realized to be a highly responsive photochromic material that can modulate in wide spectrum. The material attracted high attention from literature and initially named as "oxygen containing yttrium hydride". However, it was later found through synchrotron measurements that this material is belong to the emerging class of materials; rare-earth metal oxyhydrides. When exposed to air, yttrium dihydride (YH2) and gadolinium dihydride (GdH2) films turn into insulating and transparent yttrium oxyhydride (YHO) and gadolinium oxyhydride (GdHO), respectively. Oxidation in air, hence bandgap, can be controlled by deposition parameters. MHO (M; rare-earth metal) photodarkens when illuminated with light of adequate energy and intensity, recovers (bleaching) when stored in dark. Photochromic rare-earth metal oxyhydride knowledge and know-how was established around synthesis method, band-gap engineering, optical properties, anion sites in the lattice etc. but the photochromic mechanism and environmental effects either yet to be understood or never even investigated before the present thesis work has been started. Also, yttrium was the only rare-earth element that was shown to have photochromic properties and investigated. Especially the knowledge gap over the interaction of photochromic oxyhydrides with the environment, prevented the realization into a product that sought heavily in industry. Therefore, in the present PhD thesis the interactions of the photochromic rare-earth metal oxyhydride thin films with the environment were first and foremost investigated. This endeavor resulted with solutions that enabled product development. Furthermore, contribution to the knowledge of photochromic rare-earth metal oxyhydrides by developing and studying at least one more rare-earth element next to the yttrium was also targeted. The studies showed that photochromic rare-earth metal oxyhydride thin films interacts with environment heavily. Additionally, we have published one article in Physical Review Materials that tries to shine a light to the understanding of the rare-earth metal oxyhydride photochromic mechanism, related to the environmental interaction: "Light-induced breathing in photochromic yttrium oxyhydrides". The studies showed that during the photodarkening/bleaching cycle of yttrium oxyhydride, material releases/intakes oxygen following lattice contraction/expansion, respectively. We coined the term, breathing, after the accordion-like structural process of yttrium oxyhydride based on oxidation. The article was selected as an editor selection and featured in Physics magazine. Based on these studies, stable IGUs which has been long sought since 2016 was able to be manufactured. Another contribution for the explanation of the photochromic mechanism of yttrium oxyhydride thin films published in Physica Status Solidi Rapid Research Letters with the title of "Temperature-dependent photochromic performance of yttrium oxyhydride thin films". In this article, we have presented the photochromic kinetics of yttrium oxyhydride thin films studied between 5-250K and presented a new approach which would enable new questions. The second part of the PhD thesis plan was contributing to the knowledge of photochromic rare-earth metal oxyhydrides by at least one another rare-earth element. Gadolinium was selected as a member of the rare-earth elements for study for having similar chemical properties and widely accepted by the nuclear industry for large neutron capture diameter. In the span of a year, the production know-how and knowledge related to gadolinium oxyhydride thin films were elevated also. One article was published in the journal Molecules that shows the post-deposition oxidation is related with the preferential lattice orientation which controlled by the deposition parameters: "Preferential Orientation of Photochromic Gadolinium Oxyhydride Films". Additionally, another article based on the environmental interaction of gadolinium oxyhydride thin films will be submitted in an international journal in 2020. Environmental effect on rare-earth metal oxyhydrides was investigated further by systematic study of yttrium oxyhydride thin films under atmospheres with varying relative humidity levels. Correlation between the relative humidity levels and photochromic kinetics was observed and microstructure formation that causes the delamination was shown. One article based on the results is under progress and planned to be submitted in 2021. In the last part, applications developed during this thesis based on yttrium and gadolinium oxyhydride thin films were presented. First, photochromic kinetics of stable IGUs based on yttrium oxyhydride were presented. However, the properties photochromic rare-earth metal oxyhydrides present is much wider than only window applications as a result of their multi-anion nature. Lastly, photocatalytic properties of photochromic gadolinium oxyhydrides were also shown.
PEDOT:PSS-CB based interdigitated supercapacitors

(Graduate School, 2023-01-31) Altun, Enes Can ; Yavuz Karatepe, Nilgün ; 513191008 ; Nano Science and Nano Engineering

The globe will meet the need for energy in many different ways as global energy consumption keeps rising. In order to enhance dependable and renewable energy and balance supply and demand, energy storage systems are now being expanded. Although significant progress has been achieved in the development of high-performance fuel cells and li-ion batteries, their applicability in many industries has been constrained by their poor power density and high maintenance requirements. Because they have qualities that conventional energy storage devices lack, supercapacitors have recently attracted a lot of attention. A key feature of energy storage devices is that they deliver high power density while also having a low charge-discharge rate. They offer high power density at the same time as a low charge-discharge rate, which is an important characteristic of energy storage devices. In addition to many renewable generation methods for energy production, the importance of storing this energy and using it later is obvious. Today, energy storage devices are used in automobiles, telephones, and all areas where energy is used. Frequently used storage devices can be supplied with Li-ion batteries, supercapacitors, and capacitors. The usage area of traditional capacitors has decreased rapidly from the past to the present. For this reason, studies between batteries and supercapacitors have been increasing rapidly in recent years and countries with high energy needs are investing in these areas. Batteries, especially li-ion batteries, are the most frequently encountered energy storage devices, from phones to automobiles. Although high energy capacity is its most important feature, different energy storage has been sought due to its limited lifetime, inability to withstand high cycles, lack of high power density and not being environmentally friendly after the end of its useful life. In response to this need, research on supercapacitors has brought to mind the idea of whether they can replace batteries. Supercapacitors are preferred due to the high number of cycles, high energy and power density, and flexible working areas. Besides the types of supercapacitors, there are also different configurations. Although sandwich-type supercapacitors are generally used, interdigitated supercapacitors have been used recently with the development of different production methods. Although conventional sandwich-type supercapacitors have relatively high capacitance, they have high ion transport resistance and low active surface area. Therefore, the power density is low. The production of interdigitated supercapacitors can be fast, wearable, flexible, and small in size. In on-chip applications, interdigitated supercapacitors can be applied to any surface in the form of a film. This study, it was tried to give general information about supercapacitors. It is aimed to operate devices that do not require high energy by connecting high-capacity comb supercapacitors in series. PEDOT:PSS polymer material was used as the electrode material due to its semiconductor and excellent electrical performance. PVA gel-based xxii material was preferred as the electrolyte. As a characterization method, supercapacitors were analyzed in detail using cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) methods. To obtain interdigitated supercapacitors, patterns were created on the electrode surfaces by laser etching method. For this purpose, a laser with a 15 Watt power and a wavelength of 450 nm was used. To be able to process the patterns precisely, the laser was mounted on a plotter and the patterns were automatically processed by means of software. Since the conductivity of the PEDOT:PSS material used as the electrode material is not at a sufficient level, first of all, some materials were doped in order and the conductivity amount was aimed to reach the desired level. The doped materials are DMSO, ethylene glycol/methanol, and carbon black (CB), respectively. As a result of the added materials, PEDOT:PSS achieved the desired high conductivity. The glass surface with dimensions of 25mmx25mm was thoroughly cleaned with alcohol and water, and then the PEDOT:PSS-CB material, which was prepared beforehand, was applied to the surface by the drop-casting. Then, it was dried at 65 ⁰C for 2 hours and a thin film was obtained on the glass surface, and the coating process was completed. Then, a comb structure was formed on this surface by the laser etching method and the electrode was made ready for use. A copper current collector is affixed to the prepared electrode. Then, these current collectors are covered with insulating tape so that they do not come into contact with the electrolyte. Then, the prepared PVA-based gel electrolyte containing 6M KOH was poured onto the comb structures with the help of a syringe. The prepared energy cell is placed in a closed container so that the electrolyte does not dry out. In this way, both single and eight different samples were prepared. It is aimed to reach high voltage values by connecting the eight samples prepared in series. The operating range of the single cell is -1 V +1V and the operating range of the octa-series cell is determined as -6V +6V. As a result of the study, eight cells connected in series and a red LED bulb worked for 1 minute.
Point-of-care detection of respiratory tract infections using a novel PCR kit with gold nanoparticle-mediated dna polymerase

(Graduate School, 2023-06-21) Elmas, Mert ; Karataş Yazgan, Ayten ; 513201017 ; Nano Science and Nano Engineering

Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are common and can cause a wide range of illnesses, from mild colds to severe pneumonia, bronchitis, and other respiratory diseases. RTIs are a significant burden on public health, with high morbidity and mortality rates, particularly in vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children, and immunocompromised individuals. However, current diagnostic methods for respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are often time-consuming and require specialized equipment and trained personnel, resulting in long turnaround times and delays in treatment. In order to address this challenge, we developed a novel PCR kit for the detection of SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A virus, Influenza B virus, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) A/B, Human Adenovirus, Human Rhinovirus and Streptococcus pyogenes named Respiratory ID Panel 2 (RIDK-2), that uses gold nanoparticles to enhance DNA polymerase activity, thereby improving the sensitivity and specificity of RTI detection. In this study, we designed and optimized the gold nanoparticle-enhanced PCR kit and validated its analytical performance compared to same RT-qPCR kit produced without golden nanoparticles (AuNPs), including preliminary limit of detection (LoD), LoD, wet and in-silico inclusivity, wet and in-silico exclusivity, and stability studies. The kit demonstrated superior analytical performance, with high sensitivity and specificity for detecting target RTI pathogens mentioned above. The RIDK-2 has a turnaround time under 1 hour without the need of nucleic acid extraction with a LoD of 250 cp/mL for research samples prepared using reference materials and the kit showed no cross reactivity. The rapid turnaround time and accuracy of the gold nanoparticle-enhanced PCR kit make it a valuable tool for the timely diagnosis of RTIs, reducing the risk of intensive care unit admission and death. Furthermore, stability studies showed that the kit without gold nanoparticles could be stored at room temperature for up to 6 hours without significant loss of performance, while the gold nanoparticle-enhanced PCR kit was stable for up to 72 hours, making it suitable for use in clinics, including pediatric clinics, where specialized equipment and refrigeration may not be readily available. According to the analytical performance studies the kit's sensitivity and specificity was found as 99.74% and 99.61%. These findings suggest that the gold nanoparticle-enhanced PCR kit has the potential to significantly improve the management of RTIs, thereby enhancing patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.
Production and characterization of aramid aerogel separators for lithium ion batteries

(Graduate School, 2023-06-16) Bülbül, Hale ; Yanılmaz, Meltem ; 513211007 ; Nanoscience and Nanoengineering

Due to the increasing demand on energy storage systems, many advancements have been made in order to produce high capacity energy storage devices. . Lithium ion batteries have been an interest in years since they indicate promising potential in energy storage systems for a wide range of industries including automotive, mobility, electronics, medicals etc. Performance of a lithium ion battery is affected by the characteristics of its components which are anode, cathode, electrolyte, and separator. Separators are critical components since they preclude short circuit in battery by preventing physical contact of anode and cathode. Separators should possess mechanical stability to withstand external loads, chemical inertness to the aggressive electrolyte medium, large porosity in order to allow ionic movement, flame retardancy in case of thermal runaway, electrical insulation to avoid internal short circuit. Separators should also be thin enough with the maximum porosity to sustain fast ion mobility. Moreover, the pore sizes should be controlled, and uniform distribution of the pores should be provided. The production process and material choice in the separators will affect the properties of the final product. In this study, aramid aerogel separators were produced from waste aramid textiles as a result of processes starting with deprotonation and ending with freeze-drying. Aramid nanofiber dispersion is reinforced with nanoparticles to improve physical properties. In this study, the effect of 3 different nano-sized particles, namely Al2O3, TiO2 and nanoclay, on the aerogel structure was investigated. The effects of process and material changes in the production process on the final product were determined.
Synthesis and characterization of graphene oxide with enhanced mechanical properties

(Graduate School, 2022-11-16) Benzait, Zineb ; Trabzon, Levent ; 513142005 ; Nanoscience and Nanoengineering

With the ever-increasing multiple threats and conflicts, and with the insufficiency of the actual protection systems made of polymeric fibers such as Kevlar, Dyneema, and Zylon against improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and lethal ammunition, the development of personal protection systems with heightened mechanical proprieties has received great interest in this decade, and this interest will continue to increase as the market of personal protective armor systems is predicted to rise to $5.3 billion by 2024. As it can offer solutions and evolutions for today's world, nanotechnology holds -undoubtedly- the opportunity to provide the breakthroughs that defense technology so desperately needs. The emergence of nanomaterials with exotic proprieties makes them an excellent choice for ballistic armor materials, among the most ideal ones is graphene: graphene is already known as the world's strongest material with a theoretical modulus of more than TPa. Moreover, graphene has a low density, which is a very interesting propriety for body armor application since it provides better mobility for the soldier due to its lightweight attribute and fatigue reduction. According to recent studies, graphene has also an intrinsic ability to absorb sudden impacts and dissipate their high energy. what is essential at this point is to effectively exfoliate the raw material: graphite into large quantities of high-quality graphene. Graphene oxide (GO), the oxidative derivative of pristine graphene can be produced via a solution-based chemical exfoliation method which is a top-down process susceptible to economical large-scale production. The oxygen groups of GO can increase also its interaction with different functional groups of polymeric fibers such as Kevlar fibers, or with the polymer constituting the "brick" part of the nacre-like protective system. GO can be further converted to graphene through chemical or thermal reduction, which makes the potential of fabricating graphene-based body armors very high soon. However, GO quality remains the determinant factor and the big challenge to overcome in order to integrate GO into body armor systems. The main objective of this thesis is to enhance GO quality and to make its chemical synthesis more suitable for large-scale production. By using expanded graphite as a starting material instead of natural graphite flakes, we promoted the synthesis of GO with large sheets (average of ~ 37 μm) and low defects degree thanks to the eﬀective oxidant diﬀusion into graphene galleries after enlarging the interlayer spacing. The expanded graphite was obtained easily by treating graphite with cooled piranha solution without any washing or drying steps, and without involving any heat treatment nor requiring advanced equipment, unlike the traditional methods which require harsh conditions and result in a high cost and severe environmental pollution. An expansion volume of 430 ml/g was achieved under room temperature with mass ratios of +100 mesh graphite to sulfuric acid of 1:100 and hydrogen peroxide to sulfuric acid of 1:10. Thanks to this expansion, the oxidation temperature could be reduced from 50 °C to 35 °C and the oxidation time could be reduced to half. XRD, XPS, and NMR have shown that GO synthesized via this route that we called the "enhanced method" —reported to the best of our knowledge for the first time— has a high oxidation degree, while UV, XPS, and Raman have manifested the retain of more aromatic rings i.e. low defects compared to Tour group's method. Furthermore, after using the industrially suitable doctor-blade technique and hydroiodic acid (HI) reduction, rGO film obtained through this method has achieved a tensile strength of 190 MPa, a toughness of 5.7 MJ m-3 which is promising for the mass production of expanded graphite (EG) and GO due to the method simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and low environmental impact. The enhanced synthesis method was further used but with four different graphite sizes to study their effect on the volume expansion and GO properties in the scope of producing large graphene oxide from initially large graphite flakes. Other enhancements were done like reducing the acid quantity to reduce the total cost and make the synthesis more environmentally friendly, operating it at room temperature (20 °C), and minimizing the oxidant quantity to restrict any over-oxidation which can lead to more defects hardly removed through reduction. The strength and toughness were found to increase with increasing the starting graphite material size, except GO+100 mesh which was unexpectedly inferior to GO200 mesh. In this study, GO50 mesh exhibited the highest failure strength and toughness at 232 MPa and 11.3 MJ m-3 respectively, but despite that its starting material has a much larger size than that of GO200 mesh, the difference between their tensile curves was not that pronounced. This research work concludes that the starting graphite size can play an important role, but larger graphite flakes' size does not always lead to better GO despite that this trend is ordinarily correct. XPS shows that impurities such as organosulfate, and carboxylic groups located on the sheets' edges can reduce the properties of the final GO even if it is obtained from large graphite flakes. Raman and morphology studies reveal that as larger flakes need higher oxidant quantity, harsher oxidation may exist to overcome the diffusion-controlled oxidation pathways until achieving the flakes centers, which cuts off the sheets into smaller ones and creates more cracks and defects. Thus, there exists a balance between the large building blocks needed and the defects induced. In this study, evidence of how using +50 mesh graphite -with the enhancements made to the already enhanced method- can improve the resulting GO mechanical properties. However, to confirm the graphite size effect on GO properties, it would be better if a graphite size larger than +50 mesh can be used and the final GO size as well as its mechanical properties before and after reduction can be determined. It is important to make other characterizations for the graphite flakes and the resulting GO such as elemental analysis, XRD, and AFM. More than the tensile tests, advanced characterization can be made to GO and rGO free-standing films such as nanoindentation test, split Hopkinson bar, and gas gun measuring system for testing high strain rate behavior, and for determining failure stress and absorbed specific energy under dynamic conditions. For the immediate use of GO in the current body armor systems, Kevlar fibers can be coated with GO synthesized and enhanced through this thesis, then GO can be reduced to further ameliorate its mechanical properties. Our proposed enhanced method susceptible to cost-effective mass-scale production of GO makes the fabrication of such a body armor attainable in the near future.
Synthesis of folate receptor 1 targeted dye-conjugated peptides for use in positron emission tomography imaging systems

(Graduate School, 2022-01-26) Cin, Derya ; Alptürk, Onur ; Yılmaz, Özgür ; 513191022 ; Nanoscience and Nanoengineering ; Nano Bilim ve Nano Mühendislik

Nowadays, it is tried to find solutions for human beings to have a long and high-quality life, increase the number of studies in the field of health, and detect diseases that become difficult to treat with their progress. Cancer is one of the first causes of death statistics in official records in the world and Turkey. It is known that the diagnosis of cancer is difficult and takes time, and the number of cases continues to increase rapidly day by day. Because of the metabolism change in cancer cells, the cells continue to grow and divide instead of dying. Cancer factors; inherited mutations can be internal, such as hormones, or acquired environmental, such as carcinogens, radiation, infectious organisms, and lifestyle. By imaging the changes caused by cancer in cells, information about the stage of cancer can be obtained. Cancer researchers want to detect cells where cancers develop, identify biomarkers of cancers early, and create treatment plans for cancer. Proteins produced by tumor cells can be used as biomarkers to evaluate disease processes. Molecular imaging (MI) aims to combine patient and disease-specific molecular information and is an interdisciplinary area covering a wide range of sciences when is used in the diagnosis and treatment of diverse disease genres. For this purpose, targeted cell-specific chemical biomolecules are delivered to the organism by labeled radioactive isotopes. The imaging method to be utilized varies specifically according to the disease state. Positron emission tomography (PET), which has become more advanced with the integration of scanners such as computerized tomography (CT) used in the imaging of cancer, is one of the several imaging methods widely used in the diagnosis of cancer today. Since radioisotope imaging agents are required for imaging in PET devices, studies for their development are increasing day by day. Peptides are used as ligands/agents in imaging cancer imaging, thanks to their properties such as high selectivity and high affinity, ease of synthesis and chemical stability, quick removal from blood, and low immunogenicity/safety for cell surface proteins. Due to the metabolic rate of cancer cells, more folic acid is produced in these cells than in normal healthy body cells, and this uncontrolled increase has led to its use in cancer imaging studies. Peptide-based imaging agents are used for molecular imaging by binding to target cancer receptors such as Folate Receptor 1 (FOLR1) of tumor cells. Molecules that can bind to the FOLR1 receptor with high sensitivity and affinity were synthesized by the Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis (SPPS) method. The peptides KWGFR, KLWWN, KFLSW, KWIAG, KWSYW, KGWRN, and KSYFA were selected from the peptide library and successfully synthesized. Reversed-Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC) was used to purify the peptides and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) was utilized for peptide characterization. Finally, the imaging agent will be obtained by conjugating the peptide-based signaling agent labeled with the 68Ga isotope.
Synthesis of poly (Methyl methacrylate) reinforced by multi-walled carbon nanotubes and magnetite nanofillers

(Graduate School, 2022-02-09) Erman, Ecem ; Baydoğan, Nilgün ; 513191005 ; Nano Science& Nano Engineering

Polymer technologies are shown as one of the most important achievements in science and engineering in our recent history. Polymers have a wide variety of material groups according to their chemical and physical structures, from synthetic form plastic to natural form DNA and proteins. One of them is poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), known as acrylic, which has a thermoplastic and amorphous structure. PMMA is a lightweight and easily shaped material, and thanks to this feature, widely used in industrial fields. In addition, the transparent structure of PMMA exhibits low transmittance, and therefore optical properties can be compared with glass. With the hardness and scratch-resistance of the material and relatively low cost, PMMA replaces glass and vitreous products in industrial use. PMMA is a polymer type preferred in construction applications due to resistance to extreme weather conditions. With the reinforcements to be applied in the structure of PMMA, there is a strong possibility to obtain unique properties by attempting various polymerization methods. Manufacturing PMMA nanocomposites indicates extraordinary properties by obtaining an accurate and homogeneous distribution to the polymer matrix. Carbon nanotubes (CNT), which are widely used among nanomaterials, are used in polymer-derived materials as reinforcement factors. Carbon nanotubes are the name given to the cylindrical structure formed by the circular folding of the graphene layer. Depending on the folding state, two types of carbon nanotubes are formed as single-walled (SWCNT) or multi-walled (MWCNT). The nanocomposite structure formed by PMMA and MWCNT has thermal stability, thermal resistance, high strength, hardness, etc. The polymer-nano coupling contains an extraordinary increase in mechanical and thermal properties, which implicates many important qualities, can be used in industries for space, defense, satellite, aviation, etc. Another group of nanoparticles that is used in many industrial fields defines as magnetite nanoparticles, which are called ferrite (Fe3O4), cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4), and their metallic oxides (Co3O4). The nanocomposites strengthened with these nanoparticles greatly contribute to the homogeneous dispersion and aggregation degree, the interaction force between the particles, and the surface magnetism. This study aims to contribute to industrial areas such as aerospace, aviation, and satellite technologies, improving the mechanical and thermal properties of PMMA polymer by strengthening the PMMA polymer with MWCNT nanoparticles and reinforcing with magnetite nanoparticles simultaneously. Additionally, to discuss the effect of magnetite nanoparticles reinforced on nanoparticles, inorganic cobalt sulfate heptahydrate (CoH14O11S) crystal was reinforced with PMMA polymer reinforced with MWCNT. Atomic Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) was selected as the polymerization method in this study. ATRP is a widely preferred method in controlled-living radical polymerization applications because of the easy-to-access and low-cost reagents and is easily applicable in the laboratory environment. Advantages of this method; are controlled and rapid growth in polymer chains, functionality at the macromolecular level, and containing both the activate and deactivate mechanism of the catalytic system. Additionally, the experimental conditions can be optimized as desired. However, it is more difficult than expected to reach the optimum conditions in this method with many component groups. Since ATRP is an air-sensitive method, it is important to work in a mechanism that prevents oxygen uptake to prevent the formation of unwanted radicals. To prevent these unfavorable conditions and not impact the quality of the produced nanocomposites, the experimental setup operates in the Argon gas environment. PMMA/Nanofiller nanocomposites and PMMA composites were successfully produced using the ATRP method. For characterization analysis, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Raman Spectroscopy, X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Ultrasonic Test, many distinct applications such as Static Contact Measurement analysis, and Rockwell M Hardness Test have been carried out. In the SEM analysis used for the surface morphology, when PMMA/MWCNT, PMMA/Magnetite, and PMMA/CoH14O11S/MWCNT nanocomposites are examined, the homogeneous distribution on the surface of all samples draws attention. Although no aggregation or clumping of the nanoparticles was observed, in fact, the nanoparticles showed a fairly regular distribution in the polymer lattice, thus affecting the mechanical properties. In XRD characterization were analyzed changes in the crystal structure. According to this test result, characteristic diffraction values of PMMA and nanoparticles were obtained. FT-IR and Raman Spectroscopy results indicate that the interaction of PMMA and nanoparticles successfully satisfied the characteristic spectra of homogeneous and particular peaks. XPS analysis results also indicate that the increase in carbon and oxygen element was observed as the mass percent of the nanocomposite increased. At the same time, the presence of characteristic elements was confirmed by test outcomes. Ultrasonic test analysis was carried out to investigate the mechanical properties. Concepts such as elastic modulus, shear modulus, and microhardness were calculated using transverse and longitudinal wave velocities and with the help of various equations. According to the calculations, 4% wt. of PMMA/MWCNT nanocomposite display an increment to shear modulus of ~54%, the microhardness of ~53%, and an elastic modulus of ~59%. Furthermore, ~48% shear modulus, ~46% microhardness, and ~49% elastic modulus increment were observed for 3% wt. of PMMA/Co3O4/MWCNT nanocomposite. As a result of TGA measurements, 4% wt of PMMA/MWCNT nanocomposite improved the temperature at which it experienced 5% mass loss compared to pure PMMA with an increase of ~48°C. In addition, 3% wt of PMMA/CoFe2O4/MWCNT nanocomposite improved the temperature at which it experienced 5% mass loss compared to pure PMMA with an increase of ~39°C.
Synthesis of yellow-emissive carbon dots and observation of their interaction with aflatoxin B1

(Graduate School, 2022-11-02) Ergüder, Özge ; Ünlü, Caner ; 513201002 ; Nanoscience and Nanoengineering

The field of nanoscience focuses on topics between 1 and 100 nm in size, while the field of nanotechnology is primarily concerned with the development of useful tools and equipment for this scale. Although the term "nanotechnology" was coined during the last decade, researchers have been hard at work in this field since the 1950s. It is anticipated that this new technology, whose dimensions are measured in nanometers, would significantly advance the state of the art. Nanotechnology has fascinating potential uses in almost every area of study, from physics and materials science to biology and biotechnology to computer engineering and electronics, and even medicine. The word "nanobiotechnology" is an obvious portmanteau of "nanotechnology" and "biology," as it describes the use of nanotools and nanodevices to interact with, monitor, and modify biological functions at the cellular and molecular levels. Electron transport in nanoscale crystals known as quantum dots (QDs) is an engineering feat. These semiconducting nanoparticles can produce a rainbow of colors when exposed to ultraviolet light. QDs are semiconductor nanoparticles, first postulated in the 1970s and first realized in the early 1980s. The phrase "dots" refers to nanocrystals, while the term "quantum" refers to the smallest and most discrete unit of any physical attribute. QDs have the same arrangement of atoms as in the bulk matter, unlike bulk and nanocrystal quantum dots, therefore much more surface atoms are shown on the surface by virtue of three-dimensional truncation. Sizes of QDs are typically between 2 and 10 nm. Optical characteristics and fluorescence are produced by the semiconductor's basic material. In particular, the core material displays impacts of toxicology, photobleaching, and blinking. Because of their unique physicochemical properties, QDs can be used in a wide range of industries and technologies, from medicine and medicine delivery to electronics and solar power. The two main forms of QD manufacturing are core (bare QDs) and core/shell architectures. The shell is primarily composed of inorganic substance in order to stabilize the core, which is primarily derived from semiconductors. The semiconductor core of QDs may or may not be surrounded by a semiconductor shell. QDs range in size from 2-10 nm. The core material of the semiconductor is responsible for optical properties and fluorescence. Specifically, core material exhibits blinking, photobleaching, and toxicological effects. In core/shell arrangement, the core is passivated by the shell (which often has a wider band-gap), which improves optical quality and prevents leaching. Therefore, core/shell structures are preferable to bare QDs for biological purpose. For biological studies, it is important to modify the QDs to make them water-dispersible. Therefore, the surface of QDs can be modified with various bifunctional surface ligands or caps to enhance their solubility in aqueous media. The modification of QDs can improve their quantum yield (QY) and stability, reduce surface oxidation, and limit the release of hazardous ions. Understanding the composition, shape, crystalline structure, bandgap energy, and surface ligand nature of QDs is crucial for exploiting their optoelectric and physicochemical properties. Characterization techniques for these nanoparticles mostly fall into two categories: optical characterization and structural characterization. In order to get optical information on QDs, such as their concentration, size, and photoluminescence quantum, the UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy methods are frequently employed. Structure investigation of QDs by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals information about the semiconductor nanocrystals' size, shape, crystal structure, and chemical composition. Some laboratories also employ Raman spectroscopy, which provides a fast and precise method for monitoring atomic vibrational changes. Although there are more than 20 different types of aflatoxins, Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is widely considered to be the most dangerous because it may contaminate a wide variety of crops. One biomolecule, AFB1, can emit a fluorescent signal. In 2004, researchers developed carbon quantum dots (CQDs), also known as carbon dots (CDs), a class of multifunctional fluorescent carbon-based nanomaterials. Water dispersibility, low toxicity, high photoluminescence emission, cell membrane permeability, biocompatibility, and inexpensive manufacture are only a few of the many outstanding properties of carbon quantum dots. These are put to use in analytical imaging, drug delivery, light-emitting devices, and the field of biology. Cell-specific targeting, in-vivo imaging, and live cell labeling are all made possible through the microwave-assisted synthesis of carbon quantum dots. CDs are promising for in-vivo and in-vitro imaging research, but their fluorescence is most intense between 430 nm and 530 nm, which overlaps with the autofluorescence region of many eukaryotic cells. The development of high-quantum-yield yellow-red emissive CDs is thus a topic of interest. In this research, conventional yellow-emissive CDs were improved in two ways that increased their quantum yield. 1) Using simple, fast, and cheap microwave assisted manufacturing procedures, the surface of conventional yellow-emitting CDs was passivated with a biomolecule, urea. 2) Yellow-emitting CDs were powered by the fluorescent biomolecule aflatoxin B1. First approach achieves 51% quantum yield for CDs. Energy was transferred from AFB1 to CDs efficiently (over 40%) in the second approach. Our results demonstrated that simple-rapid microwave aided synthesis methods can be used to produce highly luminous yellow emissive CDs, which are promising candidates for sensing Aflatoxin B1. AFB1 was also found to be an emission booster for CDs, further supporting our findings. This thesis shows that traditional yellow emissive carbon dots can have their quantum yield improved by passivating their surfaces with urea using a microwave-assisted manufacturing process. Carbon dots' steady-state emission properties were unaffected by surface passivation, but the quantum yield and average fluorescence lifetime were greatly enhanced. After coming into contact with AFB1, the yellow emitted carbon dots' emission intensity was significantly increased. This study, found that AFB1 acted as an energy donor for carbon dots, resulting in a significant increase in fluorescence lifespan and quantum yield, which they measured. These results not only proved that yellow emissive carbon dots have a bright future as a chemosensor for AFB1, but they also hinted that AFB1 might be used as a suitable emission-intensity-booster for yellow emissive carbon dots in biomedical applications like in-vivo cell imaging.

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