Post-doctoral position (M/F) at CEISAM (CNRS laboratory 6230) for development of COF and MOF based molecular materials for solar driven photoelectrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction

Job Description

Missions

-Artificial photosynthesis offers the prospect of producing unlimited energy in the form of chemical fuels (such as H2 or EtOH) for the energy sector and also raw chemicals for the industry (such as CO, MeOH, carbonyl derivatives) with sunlight as sole energy source and with abundant and cheap materials such as water or carbon dioxide.
A photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) is composed of semiconductors whose surface is functionalized with catalysts and immersed in an electrolyte containing the reactants. Hybrid porous organic/inorganic materials, known as Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) or Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs), are classes of crystalline molecular solids have great potential for application in photocatalysis owing to their large surface area, high stability, tailorable properties and high CO2 adsorption capacity. Accordingly, they provide promising scaffolds to host catalysts onto the surface of semiconductors for applications in photoelectrocatalysis. This project is based on our initial results on MOFs1 and PECs2 with the global objective to design a stable CO2 gas-diffusion photoelectrochemical cell to reduce CO2 using molecular catalysts only made of abundant elements. The project aims at integrating highly active CO2 reduction molecular catalysts within the architectures of COFs and MOFs that will be subsequently immobilized on the surface of inorganic semiconductors such as copper chalcogenide, perovskite or silicon. The semiconductors for the photoelectrodes will be supplied by our physicist collaborators, but the preparation and characterizations (X ray diffraction, IR, XPS, BET, TEM, TGA, etc.) of COFs and MOFs will be made by the hired post-doctorate along with the subsequent grafting on photoelectrodes and characterizations of their photocatalytic properties. The core activity of this multidisciplinary project focusses on the preparation of reticular materials in order to develop a hybrid CO2 gas-diffusion photoelectrochemical cell.
This project is part of a larger program developed in collaboration with other laboratories and particularly with IMN at Nantes University, and IPCM at Sorbonne Université (Paris). More specifically, the project will be conducted in the CEISAM laboratory at Nantes University and will focus on COFs and MOFs preparation followed by their electro- and photo-catalytic characterizations.

References:
1. (a) Monnier, V et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc.. 2023, 145 (35), 19232-19242. (b) Xu, Z et al. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2023, 2308847. (c) Haldar, R et al. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2018, 57 (41), 13662-13665. (d) Wang, R., et al., ChemPhotoChem, 2021, 5 (8), 705; (e) Xu, Z, et al. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, 63 (52), e202414526.
(2) (a) Ichou, H. , et al. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64 (8), e202423727. (b) Pati, P. B et al. Nature Commun. 2020, 11 (1), 3499. (c) Nikoloudakis, E et al. ACS Catal. 2021, 11 (19), 12075-12086. (d) Sarkar, et al. J. Mater. Chem. A 2025, 13 (44), 38511-38517.

Activity

The main aim of this project is to prepare COFs and MOFs integrating molecular catalysts for CO2 reduction to implement them into a CO2 gas-diffusion photoelectrochemical cell. The candidate will be involved in the following tasks:
1- Functionalize molecular catalysts (phthalocyanines, porphyrins and polypyridine derivatives for ex.) with reacting groups (aldehyde and amine for ex.) or coordinating units (pyrazole for ex.) requiring good skills in organic synthesis and coordination chemistry.
2- Prepare COFs and MOFs with the above building blocks and characterize these materials (X-ray diffraction, IR, BET, TEM, TGA, etc..).
3- Depose or grow the MOFs and COFs on electrodes and measure their catalytic performances towards CO2 reduction.
4- Presentation of results at progress meetings with the consortium.
5- Writing of reports (bibliography and experimental results).

Your Profil

Skills

-A highly motivated and skilled candidate in material science with some experience in molecular synthesis is actively searched for this position. For example, a previous experience with the development of COFs or MOFs would be an important asset. Competences in photoelectrochemistry are also of high interest. Good communication skills either in English (both written and oral) are required. Owing to the multidisciplinary aspect of the project, curiosity and motivation to acquire knowledge in different fields at the frontier of chemistry is also needed.

Your Work Environment

The project will be carried out in Dr. Fabrice Odobel' group located in CEISAM Institute ("Interdisciplinary Chemistry: Synthesis, Analysis, Modelling"), which is a CNRS laboratory part of Nantes University in France. The team is composed of 3 permanent researchers, 5 post-doctorates and 2 PhD students.
The CEISAM encompasses all the research activities carried out in the area of molecular and material chemistry in Nantes and its surroundings. The CEISAM Institute is located on the Faculty of Science campus of the University of Nantes. CEISAM has about 3,000 m2 of space, and hosts about 140 researchers with different backgrounds, specialized in the fields of chemistry, material sciences, hybrid materials, electrochemistry, photochemistry, methodological developments in analytical chemistry, and molecular modeling.

Constraints and risks

Nothing special, except those inherent in a chemical research laboratory.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

The gross salary is between 3071.50 € et 4439.55 € per month depending on the experience.

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

The research professions