Missions

As part of a European Interreg project, conducted in collaboration with several universities and industrial partners across Europe, the research will focus on the design of new catalysts, exploring the mechanism, active sites, and kinetics of catalytic carbon dioxide hydrogenation for methanol production. Advanced techniques such as operando and in situ methods, isotopic labeling, and kinetic experiments in both transient and continuous regimes will be employed.

Activities

The researcher will:
-Prepare heterogeneous catalysts;
-Characterize the catalyst using a combination of various physico-chemical methods (XRD, FTIR, TPR, XPS, and EXAFS);
-Conduct carbon dioxide hydrogenation in a high-pressure reactor;
-Perform carbon dioxide hydrogenation in FTIR, EXAFS, in situ, and operando cells;
-Develop a method for analyzing the products of the catalytic reaction by mass spectrometry and gas chromatography;
-Conduct transient kinetic experiments with isotopic markers;
-Perform quantitative analysis of kinetic data;
-Travel to attend project meetings and undertake short-term collaborative work at universities in Belgium and France;
-Present the results obtained in English and write the corresponding activity reports, as well as scientific publications related to their work.

Skills

-PhD in catalysis or chemical engineering;
-Proficiency in catalyst characterization techniques using in situ and operando methods;
-Experience in the kinetics of catalytic reactions;
- Analysis methods by mass-spectrometry and gas-chromatography for hydrocarbons and oxygenates;
-Communication skills (oral, written, presentation);
-Proficiency in English, French is optional.

Work Context

The Unit of Catalysis and Chemistry of Solids (UCCS, UMR 8181 CNRS) includes 105 researchers and research professors, 32 technical and administrative staff, an average of 80 PhD students, and 20 postdoctoral researchers. The unit operates across multiple sites in the regions of Lille and Lens. The researcher will work at the Villeneuve d'Ascq site, at the University of Lille and Centrale Lille Institute. UCCS's scientific activities focus on three areas: heterogeneous catalysis, molecular catalysis and chemistry, and solid-state chemistry. Within the "Heterogeneous Catalysis" axis, the researcher will work under the supervision of Dr. Andrei Khodakov and Dr. Vitaly Ordomsky. Catalyst preparation will take place in the laboratories of the Catalysis Pilot Hall or at Centrale Lille Institute. The FTIR spectroscopy catalysis and transient kinetic experiments with isotopic markers will be conducted at Centrale Lille Institute. The work will be organized in campaigns between the two buildings. As part of the European project, the candidate will attend progress meetings held in Lille or at partner laboratories in Belgium, where they will present their results. If applicable, they will also participate in national or international conferences to present their findings.

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.

Constraints and risks

The researcher will work with pressurized reactors. Other risks include exposure to chemicals, gases, stable isotopes, and X-rays in the work environment (X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction).

Additional Information

European Cooperation Program Interreg VI France-Wallonia-Flanders