ESPCI web site
ESPCI (https://www.espci.psl.eu/en/) is a leading French “Grande Ecole” founded in 1882, educating undergraduate and graduate students through a programme merging basic science and engineering, as well as a world-renowned research institution. ESPCI Paris has setup a tradition of excellence in research, with distinguished faculty that have contributed to its history, such as Pierre and Marie Curie, Paul Langevin, Frédéric Joliot-Curie, Pierre-Gilles de Gennes and Georges Charpak. ESPCI Paris hosts more than 10 research units performing fundamental research while keeping an eye on applications enables ESPCI research scientists to make an impact at multiple levels.
The IMAP (Institut des Matériaux Poreux de Paris) is a joint ENS, ESPCI and CNRS research unit within the PSL university in Paris. It possesses a worldwide renown expertise in the synthesis and characterization of porous hybrid solids (MOFs) for applications in health, energy and environment. The team is built up from 8 permanents staff (researchers, engineers and assistant professors) and more than 30 post-doctoral fellows, PhD candidates and interns.
MOF2H2 is a research and innovation project funded by the European union under the Horizon Europe programme.
It aims to develop a world-record efficiency for sun-driven clean hydrogen production reaching 5% solar-to-hydrogen efficiency, using metal organic framework (MOF) as photocatalysts. MOF2H2 will gather different EU and international partners (including, ESPCI, CNRS, UNIVERSITAT POLITECNICA DE VALENCIA, U. MONTPELLIER, U. CAEN NORMANDIE, TECHNION, UNIVERSITEIT MAASTRICHT, RHODIA) for 36 months, including some of the best researchers in the world in their fields, for demonstrating three lab-scale photocatalysis prototypes with fine-tuned materials dedicated to hydrogen production, hence reaching TRL4.
In the framework of this EU project, IMAP is seeking to hire a motivated post-doctoral candidate. He/she will be in charge of :
– selecting appropriate MOFs candidates suitable for photocatalytic hydrogen production, mainly throughout overall water splitting (OWS) reaction ;
– synthesizing the selected MOFs and their related composites (with inorganic active species and/or photosensitisers) ;
– characterizing the obtained solids (X-ray diffraction, porosimetry, IR & UV-Vis spectroscopy, etc.) ;
– screening of their photocatalytic activity ; and,
– analysing the different results obtained by the different partners in order to identify the most promising materials to be further produced at larger scale for the next steps.
The postdoctoral fellow will be working at IMAP in close collaboration with several partners from MOF2H2. He/she will also participate to the writing of reports, deliverables and prepare regular presentations related to the EU project. The participation to consortium meetings in France or in Europe will be mandatory. The postdoctoral fellow will be supervised by Dr Christian Serre, Dr Georges Mouchaham and Dr. Antoine Tissot.
The candidate is expected to be highly experienced in the synthesis and characterization of hybrid porous materials as well as a in the study of their catalytic properties. Knowledge on X-Ray diffraction and gas sorption characterization techniques is a must. High English level (oral, written) as well as strong communication skills are required.
Starting date : 01/01/2023 (duration : 12 months, with a possibility of extension up to 20 months).
Salary : 2100 to 2500 Euros net per month (upon experience).
Application : email to G. Mouchaham (georges.mouchaham@ens.psl.eu) including a cover letter and detailed CV.