Missions

The objective of this project is to develop and characterize new, less expensive and more environmentally friendly membranes based on carbon-hydrogenated backbone polymers in order to develop high-performance and durable organic redox flow batteries.

Activités

Synthesis and characterization of ionic polymers
Membrane manufacturing and characterization ex-situ, in-situ and in cell
Assembly and battery testing
Participation in project meetings,
Writing of project reports and publications

Compétences

The candidate should have skills in polymer synthesis and membrane characterization. Notions or skills in electrochemistry would be appreciated.

Contexte de travail

The work will be carried out at the LEPMI laboratory, which is a joint research unit of the CNRS, Grenoble INP - UGA, UGA and the University of Savoie Mont Blanc, present in Grenoble and Chambéry (UMR 5279) in collaboration with the partners of the PEPR Discovery projects. In this project, two LEPMI teams are involved, MEIL and GUIDE. The work will take place under the direction of Cristina IOJOIU and Emilie PLANNES with the support of the ITAs of both teams.
Scientific context
The development of renewable energies is making stationary energy storage a necessity. Although widely developed for small equipment and mobility, Li-Ion or Na-ion batteries are not necessarily the most suitable for this type of application, for reasons of cost and recyclability. One of the most promising avenues is the development of redox-flow batteries, in which energy storage takes place within electrolytes that are stored outside the electrochemical cell. This makes it possible to decorrelate the power and capacity of the electrochemical system. Classically, electroactive species are dissolved in either aqueous or non-aqueous media, the most widely developed being all-vanadium redox-flow systems.

Recently, these technologies have gained a lot of interest due to the development and use of organic active molecules in aqueous electrolytes.
The membrane separating the anolyte from catholyte is a key component and impact strongly the system performances.

The most widely used membrane is based on a perfluorosulfonic polymer (PFSA) as exemple Nafion . Although significant progress has been made in the development of different active molecules and systems, the development of new, more efficient membranes remains poorly studied. The aim of the proposed thesis is to develop new, less expensive and environmentally-friendly membranes based on carbohydrogenated backbone polymers, in order to develop high-performance, long-lasting organic redox flow batteries. This thesis will take place within the framework of a PEPR Grant involving 4 partners (Institut de Science Chimique de Rennes (ISCR), CEA Grenoble, Laboratoire de Réactivité et Chimie des Solides (LRCS) and LEPMI) and aims to synthesize amphoteric polymers and form them into membranes. These membranes will be characterized ex-situ, in-situ and in-system at LEPMI and in collaboration with project partners.

Le poste se situe dans un secteur relevant de la protection du potentiel scientifique et technique (PPST), et nécessite donc, conformément à la réglementation, que votre arrivée soit autorisée par l'autorité compétente du MESR.

Contraintes et risques

The position is located in a sector under the protection of scientific and technical potential (PPST), and therefore requires, in accordance with the regulations, that your arrival is authorized by the competent authority of the MESR.