Researcher Post-doc Catalytic synthesis, characterization, and utilization of carbon aerogel/xerogel from biomass and biowaste using conventional and solar pyrolysis. Experimental and modelling - M/F

13 Apr 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

CNRS

Department

Centre de recherche d'Albi en génie des procédés des solides divisés, de l'énergie et de l'environnement

Research Field

Engineering
Chemistry
Physics

Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)

Country

France

Application Deadline

3 May 2024 - 23:59 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

35

Offer Starting Date

1 Jul 2024

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Although graphene was first synthesized in 2004, commercialization of the process faces some challenges that have been attributed to the low yield and high production cost. These issues might be alleviated by utilizing biomass and biowaste as precursors for graphene synthesis. Given the abundance of biomass, especially biowaste, and the pressing issue of waste management, the transformation of these resources to a value-added product such as graphene represents a highly sustainable and promising endeavor.
The synthesis of graphene from biomass poses a challenge, due to the low degree of graphitization. Consequently, metal catalysts like iron, calcium have been utilized to enhance the graphitization process. So far, significant progress has been made in the graphitization of cellulose, a material that typically does not readily undergo graphitization. While substantial advancements have been made in graphene synthesis from unconventional materials, there remains a notable gap in understanding the mechanisms of the graphene-aerogel/xerogel-metal systems, the crucial process parameters controlling their formation, and the process optimization in relation to the target applications. Another key challenge relies on the source of energy for the graphitization. The conventional heating during the catalytic graphitization has been now well explained in recent papers. This work will explore the impact on the graphitization of the concentrated solar energy and a high energy density source as compared to conventional heating.
To enhance the performance of the synthesized graphene in the targeted areas of application, two distinct 3D graphene structures, aerogels and xerogels would be studied. The impact of the drying technique on the graphene gel, with respect to pore structure would be investigated.
Thus, the principal aim of this study is to synthesize, characterize, and utilize graphene aerogel/xerogel-metal materials produced from biomass and biowaste in conventional and solar graphitization in the areas of energy and depollution, with particular focus on CO2 sequestration and hydrogen storage.

The scientific challenges of the project are:
• To understand the parameters controlling the formation of carbon aerogel/xerogel-metal systems using select operating conditions and feedstocks and uncover the mechanism of aerogel formation.
• To highlight the relationship between the physico-chemical, mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties, and the production process (conventional and solar).
• To accurately model and optimize the nano and macro structure of the aerogel/xerogel-metal system in relation with given application domains.
• To use molecular dynamics modelling to determine the activation and total energies associated with carbon atoms being added to different metal surfaces/edges together with the same energies for amorphous and graphitic carbon. At atomistic scale, the energetically surfaces of the intermetallic phase together with their structural changes as a function of the carbonization temperatures will be modelled by Density Functional Theory (DFT)-based Ab-initio Molecular Dynamics (AIMD) simulations to confidently predict the properties of the aerogel.

The candidate will work at the RAPSODEE Center at IMT Mines Albi for the production of materials using conventional heating, and for their characterization. Solar assisted carbonization will be carried out at PROMES (Odeillo). Some visits will be scheduled at Princeton university (USA) to perform and analyze Synchrotron data. The modelling work will be performed in conjunction with the three labs involved.

Requirements

Research Field

Engineering

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Research Field

Chemistry

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Research Field

Physics

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Languages

FRENCH

Level

Basic

Research Field

Engineering

Years of Research Experience

1 - 4

Research Field

Chemistry

Years of Research Experience

1 - 4

Research Field

Physics

Years of Research Experience

1 - 4

Additional Information
Eligibility criteria

It is expected that the candidate holds a PhD degree in chemical, or material engineering, or in chemistry or physics with a solid background on solid characterization, on Carbon materials in particular. Experience on some of the following techniques, XRD, XPS, TGA, FTIR, N2 sorption, SEM-EDS, HR-TEM, Raman spectroscopy, synchrotron, and on modelling will be much appreciated.

Website for additional job details

https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/UMR5302-ELSWEI-002/Default.aspx

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Centre de recherche d'Albi en génie des procédés des solides divisés, de l'énergie et de l'environnement

Country

France

City

ALBI

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Candidat/Offre/UMR5302-ELSWEI-002/Candidater.aspx

Contact

City

ALBI

Website

https://www.imt-mines-albi.fr/fr/rapsodee

STATUS: EXPIRED