Hakan Karaağaç

Hakan Karaağaç is a Professor in the Department of Physics Engineering at Istanbul Technical University's Faculty of Science and Letters. With a distinguished career spanning over a decade at ITU, he progressed from Lecturer (2013-2014) to Assistant Professor (2014), Associate Professor (2014), and ultimately to his current position as Professor. His academic journey includes post-doctoral research at the University of California, Davis (2011-2012), a doctorate from Middle East Technical University (2005-2010), a master's degree from the same institution (2003-2005), and undergraduate studies at Çukurova University (1998-2003).

Dr. Karaağaç's research focuses on advanced materials for energy applications, particularly in the areas of Materials Physics, Nanotechnology, and Semiconductors. His work centers on thin film technology, solar cell development, and nanowire applications, with special emphasis on ZnO nanostructures, Cu₂ZnSnS₄ materials, and graphene-based transparent conductive layers. His fingerprint analysis reveals strong expertise in Thin Films (100%), Solar Cells (76%), Nanowires (65%), and ZnO (48%), among other related fields.

The publication trends in Dr. Karaağaç's work demonstrate a clear progression toward increasingly sophisticated solar energy technologies. His most recent articles (2023-2025) focus on cutting-edge applications of nanomaterials in photovoltaics, including selective synthesis of ZnO nanorods on graphene and exploration of graphene's potential in Cu₂ZnSnS₄ solar cells. Earlier works established foundational research in nanowire photodetection and characterization of thin film materials, showing a consistent trajectory toward solving practical challenges in renewable energy conversion.

Dr. Karaağaç has successfully led multiple significant research projects:

• Fabrication and Characterization of SnS Thin Films for ZnO Nanorods-Based SnS Solar Cells (2024-2025, BAP)
• Fabrication of Regularly Structured and Passivated ZnO Nanowire-Based Czts Semi-Conductive Solar Cells on Graphene Layers (2021-2024, TUBITAK)
• Production of Low-Cost and High-Efficiency Transferable Cu₂ZnSnS₄-Based 3rd Generation Solar Cells (2017-2019, TUBITAK)
• Production of ZnO Nanowire-Based 3rd Generation Inorganic Solar Cells (2015-2021, BAP)

With an h-index of 16 and 576 citations according to Scopus, his research has made substantial contributions to the fields of materials science and renewable energy. His work continues to evolve with current projects focusing on next-generation solar cell technologies that address efficiency and cost challenges in photovoltaic systems.