DORUK GÜRKAN

Istanbul Gedik University, Türkiye

Development and Characterization of ZnO Coatings for Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Applications

Abstract

Electrophoretic Deposition (EPD) is a low-energy and eco-friendly coating process with high potential in renewable energy systems. ZnO coatings are promising for a wide variety of applications, such as corrosion and wear protection, optoelectronics, antibacterial surfaces, hydrophobic coatings, and energy storage. Depending on the intended use, the coatings may serve for protection in harsh environments, self-cleaning surfaces, or as functional layers in renewable energy devices such as solar cells and sensors.

In this study, ZnO coatings deposited via EPD were investigated to examine their adhesion, morphology, and mechanical properties. Adhesion strength was assessed using the crosshatch tape test in accordance with ASTM D3359 standards, while morphology analysis was performed using optical microscopy to evaluate homogeneity, cracking, and particle distribution. The mechanical durability of the coatings was also tested using micro-Vickers hardness measurements.

The findings demonstrate the potential of ZnO coatings produced by EPD for sustainable and energy-efficient applications. With increasing global demand for environmentally friendly processing methods, EPD presents itself as a viable technique for integrating clean energy solutions into surface engineering and contributing to energy savings and climate change mitigation.

Biography

Doruk Gürkan was born in Istanbul. After completing his bachelor’s at Trakya University in mechanical engineering. He completed his master’s and doctorate degrees at Yıldız Technical University in mechanical engineering as well. After working in the communication sectors, he started his academic career He still works at Istanbul Gedik University in mechanical engineering department. He mainly focuses on additive manufacturing, coating and material science. His works also cover energy efficiency studies and to develop joint projects with private sector companies in this field.