PhD offer: Nanostructured Polyelectrolyte Coacervate For Energy Storage

17 Feb 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Sorbonne Université

Research Field

Technology » Materials technology
Engineering

Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)
Leading Researcher (R4)
First Stage Researcher (R1)
Established Researcher (R3)

Country

France

Application Deadline

14 Apr 2024 - 22:00 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

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

Context and Research Project:

This thesis explores an original approach to making energy storage capacitors composed of eco-friendly waterborne polyelectrolyte coacervates using a cost-effective 3D printing technique. Water-processable polyelectrolytes are ideal candidates to develop structural and/or biological materials. Unfortunately, they have long been considered unsuitable for dielectric applications due to the presence of counterions. However, previous theoretical and experimental investigations have shown that these counterions can be totally or partially released through the charge compensation of two oppositely charged polyelectrolytes while forming complex coacervates. We will, for the first time, use functional coacervates in dielectric capacitors for high-energy storage. Attractive coacervate features, such as tunable net charges, self-assembled nanostructures, and shear-thining rheological properties, allow for direct 3D printing of high-energy storage devices. These innovative energy systems are lightweight, resistant, scalable, and adaptable to be printed into flexible/wearable electronics. Fundamentally, it is expected to advance our understanding of dielectric polarizations in polyelectrolyte-rich systems.

 

Domain: 

• Innovative and green materials for a sustainable society
• Interdisciplinary, at the interfaces of the field of soft matter, materials engineering, and electronics

Mission:

A three-year Ph.D. position is open at LCMCP (CNRS, Sorbonne Univeristy). The project will start with a bulk coacervate formed through macroscopic phase separation. Then, more organized hierarchical nanostructures, such as coacervate-core micelles and coacervate-layer lamellae are proposed. These nanostructures will be generated through electrostatically driven assembly of double hydrophilic ionic/neutral block copolymers with oppositely charged homopolyelectrolytes. We will use serval techniques (rheometers, tensile test machines, SEM, TEM, 3D printing, dielectric spectroscopy) for the formulation and characterization of these coacervate assemblies. 

 

Funding category: Contrat doctoral

PHD title: Doctorat de physique et chimie des masteriaux
PHD Country: France

Requirements
Specific Requirements

Candidates should have, or expect to attain, a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (Physics, Physical Chemistry, Materials science, Soft matter, Nanoscience). Good skills in written and oral communication in English are preferred.

Additional Information
Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Sorbonne Université

Country

France

City

PARIS

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://www.abg.asso.fr/fr/candidatOffres/show/id_offre/120413

Contact

Website

https://lcmcp.upmc.fr/site/pages-personnelles/jinkai-yuan/

STATUS: EXPIRED