Missions

The ANR ANISOFILM project aims to develop a tangential ultrafiltration process combined with crosslinking under ultraviolet (UV) radiation to produce innovative biobased composite films with controlled anisotropic textures ranging from nanometric to micrometric length scales. Nanocomposite thin films will be designed from nanocelluloses (nanocrystals or nanofibers), combined with particles that induce functional properties such as conductive multilayer carbon nanotubes, or barrier properties such as natural clays. Applications in the microelectronics, packaging and optics sectors are targeted. The postdoctoral fellow will be involved in the structural study and barrier properties (gas, water vapor) of new hybrid films based on the orientation synergy effect between cellulose nanocrystals and clay nanoparticles (1D: imogolite nanotubes; 2D: smectite nanosheets). Some of these films have already been produced in the first part of the ANR project. The postdoc may also be asked to synthesize some of the hybrid films. The main objective will be to study the structural organization properties of these anisotropic hybrid films in relation to their functional properties (mechanical, optical or barrier). To this end, the postdoctoral fellow will carry out small-angle (SAXS) and wide-angle (WAXS) X-ray scattering measurements on the facilities of the Laboratoire de Physique des Solides (UPSaclay) and the PHENIX laboratory (Sorbonne University). Measurements of oxygen and water vapor barrier properties will be carried out in collaboration with the LGP2 Laboratory in Grenoble. In particular, mechanical properties will be assessed by tensile tests in the direction of alignment and perpendicular to it. Complementary measurements using optical/electron microscopy or synchrotron radiation will also be implemented.

Activités

- Synthesis/purification and characterization of clay nanosheets and nanotubes
- Structural study by small and wide-angle X-ray scattering experiments
- Data analyses and simulations
- Mesurements of oxygen and water vapor barrier properties, mechanical properties
- Writing proposals and participation to synchrotron experiments

Compétences

The candidate must hold a PhD in physical chemistry or materials science, with expertise in soft matter and/or X-ray scattering. Experience in structural and/or mechanical characterization of colloids and polymers would be appreciated. He/she must be motivated by experimentation and possess organizational skills.

Contexte de travail

Work will be carried out mainly at the Laboratoire de Physique des Solides (Saclay) in collaboration with the Physicochemie des Electrolytes et Nanosystemes Interfaciaux laboratory (Paris). There will also be assignments with the Laboratoire Génie des Procédés Papetiers (Grenoble) and on large-scale instruments. The postdoc will be supervised by Erwan Paineau (LPS) and Laurent Michot (PHENIX). Regular exchanges will be set up with the other laboratories in the consortium, who will contribute their respective expertise and support.

Contraintes et risques

Work on laboratory X-ray sources
Use of chemical products
Missions on synchrotrons sources