Koç University Surface Technologies Research Center (KUYTAM)

Many chemical, biological and physical interactions occur on material surfaces. For this reason, developing methodologies that can investigate and/or modify the surface properties of materials and devices used in specific application areas is of great importance. The development of hydrophobic, in other words water-repellent surfaces, provides a good example of this. Developing the most suitable hydrophobic surface to be applied to a specific material produced for special purposes requires comprehensive research on the correct selection of coating material as well as manufacturing methods, adhesion and durability under adverse environmental conditions. Similar surface characterization and modifications are carried out through a wide variety of instruments capable of examining and modifying surfaces at different depth scales, from several atomic layers to the micrometer range. With the understanding of this key role of surfaces in controlling the functions of materials and devices, Koç University Surface Technologies Research Center (KUYTAM), as Turkey's first research center focused on surface science, was established in 2010 with the support of the State Planning Organization (DPT) and Koç University. Prof. Dr. İskender Yılgör served as the founding director and project manager of KUYTAM between 2010-2013. The current management of KUYTAM consists of the center director (Prof. Dr. Alphan Sennaroğlu), assistant directors (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alper Uzun and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Uğur Ünal) and center coordinator (Dr. M. Barış Yağcı). Additionally, KUYTAM has a research team consisting of five doctoral researchers (Dr. Tuğçe Akkaş, Dr. Işınsu Baylam, Dr. Amir Motallebzadeh, Dr. Naeimeh Sadat Peighambardoust and Dr. Gülsu Şimşek) with knowledge and experience covering the center's areas of expertise.

KUYTAM team (January 2019)

KUYTAM is composed of seven thematic surface characterization laboratories built over 600 m² of enclosed space (Surface Analysis Laboratory, X-ray Laboratory, Spectroscopy Laboratory, Ultra-Fast Laser Spectroscopy Laboratory, Wet Chemistry Laboratory, Atomic Force Microscopy and Nano-scratching Laboratory and Coating Laboratory). Its current infrastructure includes more than 30 state-of-the-art analytical instruments including scanning electron microscopes, atomic force microscopes, X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, X-ray diffractometers, X-ray photo-emission spectrometer, Raman microscope, ultra-fast pump-probe laser spectrometer, FTIR spectrometer and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. With this infrastructure, high-precision measurements and analyses can be performed on surfaces at different depth scales from several atomic layers to the micrometer range. Our full-time doctoral researchers from different fields of expertise such as Physics, Chemistry, Metallurgy-Materials Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, provide characterization and expert interpretation services for Koç University research groups as well as external users from other institutions. Our experts also provide instrument training for users and simultaneously conduct their own externally-funded research projects.

Two scanning electron microscopes and three X-ray diffractometers located in KUYTAM laboratories are intensively used for materials characterization.

The current KUYTAM research projects conducted by our researchers cover various fields such as surface chemistry, surface physics and surface engineering, as briefly described below: KUYTAM has a well-equipped ultra-fast laser spectroscopy laboratory that provides characterization of surface and mass kinetics at femtosecond and picosecond time scales. In addition, micro-scale material processing is performed on the surfaces of various polymer, glass, ceramic and metal materials using high-energy femtosecond lasers.

KUYTAM Ultra-Fast Laser Spectroscopy Laboratory provides researchers with extensive research capabilities in optical characterization and micro-scale manufacturing.

Another research topic pursued by KUYTAM researchers is the synthesis and characterization of novel, biocompatible, high entropy alloy surface coatings for medical implants. High entropy alloys, a new category of metallic mixtures, have emerged as new alloys with many superior structural and functional properties and have attracted significant attention recently. Through new technologies and theories developed with the aim of finding superior-quality coatings, researchers working within KUYTAM are developing biocompatible, durable and low-cost high entropy alloy coatings that can be applied as an alternative to biomaterial surfaces.

Electron microscopy images from the surface and cross-section of a high entropy alloy film characterized at KUYTAM.

KUYTAM also examines cultural heritage artifacts using surface characterization techniques. For example, in a new study conducted in collaboration with Sabancı University Sakıp Sabancı Museum, KUYTAM infrastructure was utilized during detailed paint and canvas analysis of six paintings by Osman Hamdi Bey under the project titled "Scientific Analysis and Preservation of Osman Hamdi Bey's Paintings." In addition, there are many ongoing collaborative works between KUYTAM and Koç University Department of Archaeology and Art History. Within this framework, various materials such as ancient ceramics decorated with mica, Chinese porcelain, Iznik ceramics, red earth pigments, human bones, sediment samples and glass beads are being examined. Additionally, KUYTAM is engaged in international collaboration with Ege University Department of Physics and Sorbonne University MONARIS Laboratory (France) for research on Early Period Iznik ceramics found in historic buildings in Edirne, Bursa, Kütahya and Konya.

In-situ, non-destructive XRF analysis work performed on Iznik ceramics at the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne.

In summary, KUYTAM is equipped with complete and state-of-the-art infrastructure to conduct surface science research. The center is open to all researchers from other universities, public institutions and industrial companies. KUYTAM researchers lead externally-funded research projects for innovative product development in addition to fundamental surface science. Additionally, they regularly organize workshops and participate in industrial fairs to engage both academic and industrial groups in novel surface analysis techniques.   Prof. Dr. Alphan Sennaroğlu giving a presentation on surface characterization techniques at PaintExpo Eurasia and STT Show Eurasia 2017 held in Istanbul.   The author thanks Barış Yağcı, Gülsu Şimşek, Amir Motallebzadeh, Işınsu Baylam, Uğur Ünal and Alper Uzun for their contributions to the preparation of this article.         Prof. Dr. Alphan Sennaroğlu Director Koç University Surface Technologies Research Center (KUYTAM)