ISU-TEAM Research Featured on the Inside Front Cover of Dalton Transactions
A tutorial review involving researchers from Istinye University’s Clean Energy Research Center (ISU-TEAM) has been featured on the Inside Front Cover of Dalton Transactions, an international journal of inorganic chemistry published by the Royal Society of Chemistry. The cover appears in Volume 55, Issue 35, dated 15 September 2026.
The article, “Spin-controlled electro- and photocatalysis: principles, modeling, and enhancement strategies”, was authored by Saeedeh Mohammadi, Masoud Shahrokhi, Şükrü Kaya, and Esmail Doustkhah. The review examines the role of electron spin and spin polarization in understanding and designing electro- and photocatalytic systems, with particular emphasis on spin-resolved density functional theory (DFT) and computational strategies for controlling catalytic activity and charge-transfer processes. The cover artwork visually represents the central concept of the study through light, spin-up and spin-down electronic states, catalytic surfaces, and molecular transformations. Selection of the work for the journal cover highlights ISU-TEAM’s research at the interface of computational materials science, catalysis, and clean-energy conversion.
Volume 55, Issue 35
15 September 2026
Marie Curie COFUND Fellow Dr. Ramin Hassandoost Joins ISU-TEAM at Istinye University
Dr. Ramin Hassandoost has joined Istinye University as a research fellow after receiving support through the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions COFUND / TÜBİTAK 2236 CoCirculation3 Programme. The fellowship represents an important addition to the international research activities of the Clean Energy Research Center (ISU-TEAM) and the E-PEC Research Group.
His project focuses on the development of advanced perovskite-based materials for green hydrogen production, with particular attention to light harvesting, Mie-resonance-assisted material design, and enhancement of photocatalytic hydrogen-generation performance. The research will be carried out at Istinye University under the supervision of Dr. Esmail Doustkhah, Director of ISU-TEAM.
The newly funded fellowship is expected to contribute to Istinye University's growing research capacity in green hydrogen, advanced functional materials, and sustainable energy conversion, while further strengthening ISU-TEAM's participation in internationally funded research and researcher-mobility programs.
Clean Energy Research Center (ISU-TEAM), Istinye University
The 10th International Hydrogen Technologies Congress (IHTEC-2026) Was Held at Istinye University
The 10th International Hydrogen Technologies Congress (IHTEC-2026) was successfully held in Istanbul on 10–13 May 2026, hosted by Istinye University. Organized by Istinye University and the Hydrogen Technologies Association, the congress brought together researchers, industry representatives, and public-sector stakeholders from Türkiye and around the world.
Over four days, the congress addressed current topics including hydrogen production, storage, transport, distribution and utilization, fuel cells, electrolysis, hydrogen safety, sustainable energy systems, the hydrogen economy, and energy policy. In addition to opening and invited lectures, recent developments in hydrogen technologies were shared through technical sessions, panels, poster presentations, and scientific discussions with international participants.
The Clean Energy Research Center (ISU-TEAM) and its members made significant scientific and organizational contributions to the successful hosting of the congress at Istinye University. ISU-TEAM researchers actively contributed to the organization, scientific program, and academic exchange in the field of hydrogen technologies.
Further information on IHTEC-2026 and its scientific program is available on the official congress website. The IHTEC-2026 Proceedings Book, containing the contributions presented during the congress, is also available online.
ISU-TEAM Research Featured on the Front Cover of ACS Applied Energy Materials
An international research study involving researchers from Istinye University's Clean Energy Research Center (ISU-TEAM) has been selected for the front cover of ACS Applied Energy Materials, a journal published by the American Chemical Society. The study, co-authored by Assist. Prof. Dr. Esmail Doustkhah, Director of ISU-TEAM, represents an important scientific output in the fields of clean energy conversion, advanced materials, and photo(electro)catalysis.
The article, entitled “Interlayer Atomic Voids by Partial Cesium Defect in Layered Titanate Activate Photo(electro)catalytic H2 and O2 Generation”, was authored by Tuğçe Üstünel, José Julio Gutiérrez Moreno, Xiaoran Zheng, Sajjad S. Mofarah, Hadi Jahangiri, Sarp Kaya, and Esmail Doustkhah. The paper was published in Volume 8, Issue 20 (2025) of ACS Applied Energy Materials.
The study demonstrates that deliberately introduced cesium vacancies and interlayer atomic voids in layered cesium titanate can significantly enhance the photo(electro)catalytic properties of a material that initially exhibits low activity. Cesium-deficient structures showed improved photocatalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction and enhanced photoelectrocatalytic performance for the oxygen evolution reaction.
Computational modeling and density functional theory (DFT) calculations further showed that atomic defects can modify the electronic structure and introduce intermediate energy states that support photogenerated charge separation and stabilization. The findings highlight the potential of defect engineering and atomic-scale materials design for clean hydrogen production and solar-driven water-splitting technologies.
The research is also an important scientific output of international collaborations developed within the framework of the EIG CONCERT-Japan Program. ISU-TEAM continues to advance high-impact research in clean energy and sustainable energy conversion through interdisciplinary and international partnerships.
