Design and preparation of nanocatalysts for the reductive transformation of CO2 into strategic organic molecules

Keywords: organometallic chemistry, catalysis, copper nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, nanocomposite, materials synthesis, characterization.

To apply: Send your resume, cover letter and recommendation letter (or references) to the 3 contacts listed above before

Abstract

This PhD project concerns the search for efficient and recyclable catalysts for carbon dioxide (CO2) valorization. CO2, a greenhouse gas produced from anthropogenic and natural sources, is also an attractive C1 building block for preparing fuels and chemicals. The objective of this project is to design and prepare competitive catalysts able to promote CO2 hydrogenation into strategic organic molecules: methylamines (high added value targets) or methanol (basic molecule). Methanol production is still mainly achieved on a Mt scale from CO hydrogenation (from fossil feedstock) via Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts under harsh temperature and pressure conditions. Besides, current catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation suffer from limited stability.
The catalysts targeted here combine Cu nanoparticles (CuNPs) possibly associated to a metal oxide (MO) co-catalyst (M = Zr, Zn, Ti), both of them being supported on carbon nanotubes (CNTs). These innovative nanocomposites will combine the high catalytic activity of CuNPs (or mixed CuNPs-MO catalysts), together with the high specific surface and excellent chemical/thermal/mechanical stabilities inherent to CNTs. The resulting supported catalysts are expected to display very high catalytic performances and durability especially thanks to a good CuNPs stabilization and support cooperativity.
The main working missions include:
• the development of methods to tailor CNTs surface functionalization in relation with the subsequent decoration step.
• the decoration of CNTs with Cu NPs (and possibly MO) of well controlled size and distribution (including single atom deposition).
• the evaluation of the catalytic activity and recyclability of the resulting nanocomposites in CO2 hydrogenation to prepare methylamines/methanol.
The nanocatalysts will be characterized chemically (XPS, EDX, Raman spectroscopy…) and microstructurally (TEM, STEM, HAADF…) before and after catalysis.

Candidate profile:

The candidate should have a strong background in molecular chemistry and good skills in organometallic and/or organic synthesis. Good knowledge in materials science will be appreciated. A strong motivation for this topic combining nanomaterials preparation and catalysis is required.
Location: The work is part of a cooperation between 3 laboratories located at Montpellier and Toulouse and is funded by the Institute Carnot Chimie Balard Cirimat. The successful candidate will be employed by Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Montpellier (ENSCM) and will work at Centre Inter-universitaire de Recherche et d’Ingénierie des Matériaux (CIRIMAT) in Toulouse, Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie des Nano Objets (LPCNO) in Toulouse and Institut Charles Gerhardt (ICGM) in Montpellier.

Contacts:

Dr Pierre Fau pfau@insa-toulouse.fr LPCNO http://lpcno.insa-toulouse.fr
Dr David Mesguich david.mesguich@univ-tlse3.fr CIRIMAT https://www.cirimat.cnrs.fr
Dr Armelle Ouali armelle.ouali@enscm.fr ICGM https://www.icgm.fr

To apply:

Send your resume, cover letter and recommendation letter (or references) to the 3 contacts listed above before July 1st, 2022.
CO2 +3H2CH3OH + H2OCu nano-catalystsCO2 +3H2+R1R2NHR1R2NCH3+ 2H2O