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Burcu Saner Okan

Burcu Saner Okan

Sabancı University FENS

Education

PhD in Materials Science and Engineering, Sabancı University/Turkiye, 2007-2011

MS in Materials Science and Engineering, Sabancı University/ Turkiye, 2005-2007

BS in Chemistry, Middle East Technical University (METU)/ Turkiye, 2000-2005    

Work Experience

  • 2024-present Professor of Materials Science and Nanoengineering, Sabancı University, Istanbul, Turkiye
  • 2024-present Co-founder and CTO, Euronova Next-generation Sustainable Plastic Materials Co, Istanbul Turkiye
  • 2013-present Co-founder, NANOGRAFEN Nano Technological Products Chemistry, R&D Company, Istanbul, Turkiye
  • 2020-2024 Application and Research Oriented Faculty Member, Assoc. Prof. Dr. of Materials Science and Nanoengineering and Manufacturing Technologies, Sabancı University, Istanbul, Turkiye
  • 2022-2024 Academic Director, Sabancı University Integrated Manufacturing Technologies Research and Application Center & Composite Technologies Center of Excellence, Istanbul, Turkiye
  • 2012-2020 Researcher, Assist. Prof. Dr., Sabanci University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center, Istanbul, Turkiye
  • 2011-2014 Technical project manager, NanoTego Nanoteknolojik Malzeme Teknolojileri Arastirma Gelistirme San ve Tic. A.S., Istanbul, Turkiye
  • 2011-2012 Post Doctoral Research Fellow, Sabanci University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center, Turkiye

Research Interests

  • Graphene and 2D Materials
  • Thermoplastic Composites
  • Recycling and Upcycling Technologies
  • Sustainable Material Development Technologies
  • Functional Fiber Production and Surface Treatment Technologies
  • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Circular Economy

Last 5 Publications

  1. S. Sorayani Bafqi, Fr. Tunioli, S. Khaliha, M. Melucci, B. Saner Okan, Development of Anisotropic Nanofibrous Hybrid Membranes Coated with Upcycled Graphene for Enhanced Adsorption of Emerging Contaminants from Drinking Water, Environmental Research, 2025, Vol. 282, 122086. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.122086
  2. Aliyeva, B. Saner Okan, A Comparative Analysis of Lightweight, High-Performance Flax Fiber and Upcycled Graphene Reinforced Polypropylene Sustainable Composites for Automotive Industry, Polymer Composites, 2025, Vol. 5, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1002/pc.30012
  3. Mehdipour, B. Beylergil, M. Yildiz, B. Saner Okan, Experimental validation and numerical modeling of interfacial effects in silanized hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) reinforced epoxy composites by tailoring silane concentration, Composite Interfaces, 2025, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1080/09276440.2025.2460344
  4. Mehdipour, S. Doğan, A. Al-Nadhari, M.S.Sorayani Bafqi, B. Beylergil, M. Yildiz, B. Saner Okan, Influence of functionalized h-BN particle interphase and interface regulation with structural design on the directional thermal conductivity and mechanical performance of carbon fiber/epoxy composites, Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, Vol. 190, 2025, 108708. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesa.2025.108708
  5. Sahin Dundar, B. Saner Okan, Compatibilizing effect of grafted recycled graphene on the viscoelasticity and mechanical performance of polypropylene composites, Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, 2025, Vol. 44 (1), pp. 3-16. https://doi.org/10.1177/073168442312084.

Patents

  1. Saner Okan, M. Yıldız, PEEK-based thermally conductive film manufacturing and method, TR patent application, 2024.
  2. Saner Okan, A Sustainable and Scalable Method For Graphene Production, PCT Application, PCT/TR2024/050394, 2024
  3. Saner Okan, M. Yıldız, S. Arıcan, M. Cansever, Polymer Based Composite Materials with Increased Thermal Conductivity, TR patent application, No: TR 2022/018041. PCT/TR2023/051327.
  4. Z. Menceloglu, S. Avaz Seven, G. S. Ariturk, B. Saner Okan, Cellulose Vermiculite Loaded Polymer Composites, TR patent application, TR 2022/007390, 2022. PCT/TR2023/050409. (Licenced technology)
  5. Yildiz, B. Saner Okan, E. Yildirim, Y. Ozdogan, M. E. Inal, T. Altuntop Ersan, O. Birer, Single or hybrid nano additive coating method to provide high conductivity to electrically non-conductive textile/fabric surfaces, TR patent application, 2021/015228, 2021.
  6. Z. Menceloglu and B. Saner Okan, Method for growing 2D/3D carbon-based nano- and submicron- sized structures, PCT patent application, PCT/TR2021/050785, 2021. EP4384477A1; WO2023018386A1.
  7. Z. Menceloglu, B. Saner Okan, M. Yıldız, Method for Production of Three-Dimensional Closed Graphene-Based Nano-/Microstructures, European patent, No: EP 3012018 B1, 2017. UK&TR registration entered from EP, American registration (US9850572B2).

Memberships

  • Editorial Board Member, Nano Futures, IOP Science, 2023-present.
  • Topic Editor, Frontiers in Manufacturing Technology, Women in Manufacturing Technology 2022-present.
  • 2020-present, Reviewer, TUBITAK and TEYDEB projects, Turkiye.
  • 2019, Expert, Horizon2020 proposal evaluation, Call H2020-LC-BAT-2019 Next-Generation Batteries, Belgium.

Awards

  1. Science Academy Young Scientist Award (BAGEP), 2023, Turkiye.
  2. Mehmet Şuhubi Award within the framework of the TTGV Awards given by the Technology Development Foundation of Turkey (TTGV), 2021,
  3. Second prize in the poster competition for master students SPE ACCE 2020 (Automotive Composites Conference and Exhibition)- World's Best Automotive Conference organized by Ford Motor Company and General Motors Company, September 9-11, 2020, USA.
  4. Theodore-von-Kármán-Fellowship, 2019, ITA Aachen, Germany. 
  5. Best poster presentation award, Kordsa-Sabancı University Joint Project, Smart Nanomaterials 2018 Conference, one of the prestigious conferences in Europe involving in applied research, December 10-13, 2018, Paris, France.
  6. My Spin-off company of Nanografen, ITU Cekirdek Bigbang competition, 60000 TL investment award, November 12, 2016, Turkiye.
  7. 2nd place award, The project title: Fabrication of high performance thermoplastic nanocomposites by reformulating masterbatches by the addition of graphene produced from recycling process as a multi-functional filler, Nanocomposites project competition organized by Yıldız Technical University Technology Transfer Office, November 2, 2016, Turkiye.
  8. 3rd place award, The project title: Development of lightweight, high strength and low cost graphene containing resin formulation for new generation automotive composites, 5. Automotive Project Competition, May 5-6, 2016, Turkiye.
  9. 2nd place award in the Project competition about new technologies in automotive sector organized by Yıldız Technical University Technology Transfer Office. The project entitled as “Graphene production by recycling process and its use as a reinforcing and weight-reducing agent in automotive plastics”. November 18, 2025, Turkiye.
  10. Oral presentation award, 6th International Conference on Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Conference, July 16-17, 2015, Rome, Italy.
  11. Best poster award among 330 project posters in Euronanoforum 2013 conference, Europe's biggest nanotechnology event, June 18-20, 2013 in Dublin, Ireland.