Missions

Polymers are versatile, durable, and cost-effective materials essential in packaging, construction, and electronics. Polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) form a special class with rigid ring-shaped molecules that create interconnected voids ranging from 0.2 to 2 nanometers. PIMs have high specific surface areas and are scalable, making them ideal for gas adsorption and mixture separation. However, only a few fluid mixtures can currently be separated using nanoporous materials, and most existing methods still rely on costly thermal processes such as distillation. Developing new separation processes based on nanopores could address environmental challenges such as water contamination and CO₂ emissions.

For these new processes to emerge, a better understanding of the complex behavior of confined fluid mixtures at the nanoscale is essential. Achieving this requires novel multi-scale approaches to connect the molecular details of confined molecules at the nanoscale to macroscopic transport properties. The goal of this postdoctoral position is to link the molecular properties of fluid mixtures in a microporous polymer to its large-scale permeability and selectivity.

Activités

- Development of realistic models of mixtures in microporous polymers using molecular simulations.
- Characterization of the structural and dynamic properties of confined fluids and their interactions with polymer surfaces.
- Translation of molecular-scale results to the macroscopic scale using a network-based approach.
- Use of the network model to predict the macroscopic permeability and selectivity of PIM membranes.

Compétences

The candidate must hold a PhD in physics, statistical mechanics, physical chemistry, or materials science and have some experience in scientific programming and molecular simulations.

Contexte de travail

LIPhy is an interdisciplinary physics laboratory bringing together experts in the theory and experimentation of soft matter systems and fluids at interfaces. Located in Grenoble, LIPhy is surrounded by physics, chemistry, and biology laboratories, providing opportunities for potential collaborations with experimental groups (SAXS, SANS, etc.), depending on the candidate's interests.

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

Work in a restricted access area (ZRR) requiring prior approval from the Security and Defense Officer (FSD). The contract can start from September 2025.