Gözde İnce
Sabancı University
“Kinetics and Mechanisms of Vapor-Deposited Polymer Thin Films”
Abstract
Organic and polymeric nanostructures offer strong potential for applications in sensing, electronics, biomedicine, and molecular separation, however, conventional solution-based fabrication is often limited by solvent effects, poor conformality, and scalability challenges. Vapor-phase polymerization provides a solvent-free alternative, enabling conformal coatings on complex structures with sub-nanometer thickness control. Initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) will be introduced and how process parameters affect deposition kinetics, precursor transport, and surface reaction mechanisms, particularly in confined geometries where transport limitations affect film growth will be discussed. Strategies to engineering polymeric nanostructures with tunable morphology and functionality using templating, ion irradiation, and applied stress, as well as methods to tailor composition during deposition will be described. These strategies enable stimuli-responsive systems for controlled delivery and membranes with tunable selectivity. Finally, work on polymer-functionalized biosensing platforms, where nanoscale architectures enhance sensitivity and selectivity will be presented.
Dr. Gözde İnce obtained her BS degree in Physics from Boğaziçi University and her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Boston University. During her doctoral studies, she focused on synchrotron x-ray studies of surface morphology evolution in semiconductors and thin film growth. She completed her postdoctoral research in Chemical Engineering at MIT, where she concentrated on vapor phase deposition and kinetic studies of organic thin film coatings. Currently, she is a faculty member in the Materials Science and Nanoengineering program at Sabancı University. Her research interests include the synthesis and development of organic surfaces and nanostructures for biomedical and electronic applications.
Date: 15 April 2026, Wednesday
Time: 15:30
Place: SA-240
All interested are cordially invited.