MasterNanosciences, nanotechnologies

With an increase in the consumption of fossil fuels, the emission of greenhouse gases has led to a considerable climatic change. With CO2 accounting for about 76% of the total greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, continuous efforts are being invested into reducing this gas into more valuable small carbon-based products such as CO, HCOOH, which in turn could be utilized as raw materials in the development of sustainable energy technologies. CO2 being kinetically inert, the involvement of a catalyst and an energy source is essential in overcoming the reaction barrier hence achieving efficient reduction of CO2.

In that context, we are following a molecular approach inspired by natural photosynthesis to photo-reduce CO2 under visible light. It consists of the association of a photosensitizer, a molecular catalyst and an electron donor. Under irradiation photoinduced electron transfer would lead to the activation of the catalysis. This internship will consist to synthesis and investigate notably W(0) or Mn(I)  metal complex  to replace the prototypical [Re(bpy)(CO)3Cl] (bpy = 2,2’-bipyridine) catalyst and evaluate their activity for photo electrocatalysis in the presence of an electron source and inorganic redox photosensitizer like [Ru(bpy)3]2+. The catalysts then could be associated with the photosensitizer in a polymer chain to facilitate the photoinduced electron transfer process and/or anchored at the surface of semi-conducting materials to obtain a photocathode for the reduction of CO2.

Expected skills

We are looking for a student with knowledge on coordination chemistry, having large interest for chemical-physics characterization notably electrochemistry and stationary and time resolved emission spectroscopy.

Competences that will be acquired during the internship

Practice in Electrochemistry (cyclic voltammetry) in glove box. Working with nanosecond and picosecond pulsed laser for emission measurements. Redox photochemistry. Gas chromatography.