Quantum Nanostructures, Water and Energy Laboratory (Q-NanoWE)

Assoc. Prof. Sibel BARISCI's LAB

The Q-NanoWE Research Group aims to develop innovative and sustainable solutions in the fields of water and wastewater treatment; micropollutants, including PFAS; photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis; advanced oxidation processes; nanomaterial synthesis; macroalgae and microalgae; quantum dots; and hydrogen production.

Our research group focuses on critical issues, including the protection and efficient use of water resources, improvement of wastewater treatment technologies, reduction of environmental pollution, and the exploration of renewable energy sources.

Research Areas:

• Water and wastewater treatment
• Micropollutants (PFAS, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, etc.)
• Photocatalysis
• Photoelectrocatalysis
• Advanced oxidation processes
• Nanomaterials
• Macroalgae and Microalgae
• Quantum dots
• Hydrogen (Green energy)

Selected Publications:

• Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of PFOA and short-chain PFCAs coupled with hydrogen production via olive kernel biomass-based CQDs-doped TiO₂ composites.
  Ayşe Merve Ünsür, Mona Nejatpour, Meral Dükkancı, Burcu Ozden, Sibel Barisci.
  Separation and Purification Technology (Q1), Volume 385, 2026, 136366.
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2025.136366
• Enhanced photodegradation of perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) using carbon quantum dots (CQDs) doped TiO₂ photocatalysts: A comparative study between exfoliated graphite and mussel shell-derived CQDs.
  Mona Nejatpour, Ayşe Merve Ünsür, Bergüzar Yılmaz, Merve Gül, Burcu Ozden, Sibel Barisci, Meral Dükkancı.
  Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering (Q1), Volume 13, Issue 1, 2025, 115382.
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2025.115382
• The function of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) derived from peapod biomass in composite photocatalysts for the enhanced photodegradation of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) under UVC and visible light irradiation.
  Mona Nejatpour, Bergüzar Yılmaz, Burcu Ozden, Sibel Barisci, Meral Dükkancı.
  Journal of Water Process Engineering (Q1), Volume 73, 2025, 107750.
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2025.107750
• Green approach for perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) removal with density functional theory (DFT) insights: Peanut-shell biomass-based carbon quantum dots (PCQDs) coupled with TiO₂ photocatalyst.
  Ayşe Merve Ünsür, Mona Nejatpour, Meral Dükkancı, Burcu Ozden, Salima Samai, Cemal Parlak, Sibel Barisci.
  Journal of Hazardous Materials (Q1), Volume 495, 2025, 139060.
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139060