Physical Chemistry of Materials and Electrolytes for Energy (PCM2E)

The PCM2E is built around skills in electro­chemistry, thermodynamics and organic and inorganic materials chemistry (synthesis, cha­racterization, modeling, properties). The PCM2E’s themes are divided into three mains areas dealing with nanostructured materials and composites, or­ganic pi-conjugated materials and electrolytes (liquids, DES, polymers, gels) for «energy» applications associated with batteries, supercapacitors, solar cells and thermoe­lectricity.

Research topics:

• Innovative materials for energy storage
• π-conjugated materials
• Electrolytes and ionic media

Equipment and technology:

Apparatus for physico-chemical, thermal and macromolecu­lar analysis :

• DSC, TGA, SEC, Calorimeters (ARC and C80)
• FTIR, UV-Visible, Time Resolved Fluorescence, Raman, NMR
• Densities/viscosity/speed of sound, Equipment to determine fluid phase equilibrium (vapour pressure, gas solubility, etc.), contact angle equipment, Karl Fisher
• Microbalance (μg)
• X-ray Fluorescence
• BET
• Laser granulometer
• Four-point device

Thin Film apparatus: Spin coating, hand coating, pneumatic deposition, inkjet printing, Electrospray

Electrochemical apparatus: Cycling (potentiostats-galvanostats), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (Biologic), Solartron frequency analyser, Ionic and electronic conductivity measure­ments (automated measurements on 18 cells from -40 to 80°C), Electrochemistry platform under inert atmos­phere, Quartz crystal microbalance / electrochemistry (EQCM), Electrochemical dilatometer

Apparatus for Li-ion batteries and supercapacitors:

2 Glove boxes with oxygen and moisture sensors, coin cells, pouch cells, Swageloks electrochemical cells (2 and 3 electrodes), EL-Cell (3 electrodes), hydraulic press

Synthesis apparatus:

Technical means for the synthesis and characterization of molecules and polymers ( evaporators, silica gel and flash chromatography, glassware for synthesis (under controlled atmosphere), vacuum ramps, desiccators, sublimation equipment, ...), synthesis under microwave, ball milling, oven, ultrasound probe, ...)