Postdoc InsideNano – M/F – CRPP Bordeaux

Apply before May 21 !

Work Context

The postdoc fellow will be posted at the CRPP (Bordeaux) under a strong collaboartion with IC2MP (Poitiers) and LAGEFP (Lyon), taking the beneifit of an the ANR InsideNano funding.

The position is located in a sector under the protection of scientific and technical potential (PPST), and therefore requires, in accordance with the regulations, that your arrival is authorized by the competent authority of the MESR.

Missions

Generally, noble metal-based catalysts are applied to catalyze hydrogenation/dehydrogenation (HYD/DH) reactions due to their high catalytic activity and selectivity. However, their high cost and scarcity limit their large-scale use in fields of application yet considered essential to respond to current scientific challenges. This is the case for the highly promising technology of H2 storage by Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHC), based on reversible HYD/DH cycles and having the advantage of transporting and distributing H2 via existing fossil fuel infrastructures. Pt/Al2O3 catalysts are the most widely used for DH reactions due to the high Pt ability to activate C-H bonds and the capability of Al2O3 support to disperse the metallic active sites. Supported non-noble metal nanoparticles (NP), such as Ni, are expected to be good substitutes for Pt-based catalysts if the conception of these materials allows (i) generating an optimal dispersion of the metallic phase on the support and (ii) resisting to the agglomeration phenomenon during time on stream, both generally difficult to reach with this type of metal but essential to obtain sufficient activity and stability.
The aim of this project is to incorporate bimetallic Ni-M (M=Zn, Sn or Cu) metal phase directly from the synthesis step of the oxide-based support using an innovative one-pot method, in order to obtain a Pt-free metallic phase highly dispersed (NP size < 5 nm) with strong metal-support interactions limiting its sintering. The design and composition of these catalysts will be optimized in order to maximize their efficiency in terms of activity, selectivity and stability for a DH reaction involved in the LOHC processes.

Activities

Activities will be essentially focussed over sol-gel chemistry while dealing with hierachically organized porosity. aside their chacatreryzation at various legnht scales is also expected (BET, mercury porosimétry and so forths..) The post-doc fellow will have to supervize under-grade trainees.

Skills

The post-doc fellow will have to have to bear some knowledges towards porous materials, sol-gel chemistry and/or even MOF. Some know-how while considering gaz sorption properties will be considered as an advantage. The main competences and know-how to address are motivation and willigness to work hard. Everything should flow aferwards.