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Functionalized aluminosilicate nanotubes for photocatalysis


Thesis topic details

General information

Organisation

The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) is a key player in research, development and innovation in four main areas :
• defence and security,
• nuclear energy (fission and fusion),
• technological research for industry,
• fundamental research in the physical sciences and life sciences.

Drawing on its widely acknowledged expertise, and thanks to its 16000 technicians, engineers, researchers and staff, the CEA actively participates in collaborative projects with a large number of academic and industrial partners.

The CEA is established in ten centers spread throughout France
  

Reference

SL-DRF-25-0452  

Direction

DRF

Thesis topic details

Category

Condensed Matter Physics, chemistry, nanosciences

Thesis topics

Functionalized aluminosilicate nanotubes for photocatalysis

Contract

Thèse

Job description

Rising energy demand and the need to reduce the use of fossil fuels to limit global warming have created an urgent need for clean energy collection technologies. One interesting solution is to use solar energy to produce fuels. Low-cost materials such as semiconductors have been the focus of numerous studies for photocatalytic reactions. Among them, 1D nanostructures are promising because of their interesting properties (high and accessible specific surface areas, confined environments, long-distance electron transport and facilitated charge separation). Imogolite, a natural hollow nanotubes clay, belongs to this category. Its particularity does not lies in its chemical composition (Al, O and Si) but in its intrinsic curvature, which induces a permanent polarization of the wall, effectively separating photo-induced charges. Several modifications of these materials are possible (coupling with metal nanoparticles, functionalization of the internal cavity), enabling their properties to be modulated.We have demonstrated that this clay is a nanoreactor for photocatalytic reactions (H2 production and CO2 reduction) under UV illumination. In order to obtain a useful photocatalyst, it is necessary to extend photon collection into the visible range. One strategy considered is to encapsulate and covalently graft dyes acting as antennae in the cavity. The aim of this thesis is to synthesize imogolites with different internal functionalizations, to study the encapsulation and grafting of dyes into the cavity of these functionalized imogolites, and finally to study the photocatalytic properties.

University / doctoral school

Sciences Chimiques: Molécules, Matériaux, Instrumentation et Biosystèmes (2MIB)
Paris-Saclay

Thesis topic location

Site

Saclay

Requester

Position start date

01/10/2025

Person to be contacted by the applicant

PICOT Pierre pierre.picot@cea.fr
CEA
DRF/IRAMIS/NIMBE/LIONS/
CEA Paris-Saclay
DRF/IRAMIS/NIMBE/LIONS
Bât.546 p.2
91191 Gif sur Yvette

Tutor / Responsible thesis director

LE CAER Sophie sophie.le-caer@cea.fr
CNRS
DRF/IRAMIS/NIMBE/LIONS
DRF/IRAMIS/NIMBE/LIONS
Bât.546
CEA Saclay
91191 GIf/Yvette
01 69 08 15 58

En savoir plus

https://iramis.cea.fr/nimbe/lions/annuaire/?uidc=M0s1MkxLSUwDAA
https://iramis.cea.fr/nimbe/lions/