Missions

The objective of this research is the design, development and physico-chemical characterisation of nano-composite materials (films, devices) containing spin-transition nano-objects interacting (mechanically and/or electrically) with other constituents (polymer, metallic nanoparticles) in order to generate original (electro)mechanical properties for developing mechanical actuators.

Activités

- Design of new composite materials
- Synthesis (coordination chemistry, polymer)
- Elaboration of films and actuator devices (blade casting, 3D printing, FDM, SLA, .....)
-Physico-chemical characterisation
-Writing of scientific papers
-Student supervision

Compétences

Solid skills in polymer chemistry and in shaping composite and nano-composite materials with polymer matrices are desirable.

Contexte de travail

Work carried out in the Commutable Molecular Materials team of the Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination (LCC) in Toulouse as part of an ERC project.
Supervisors: Lionel Salmon and Azzedine Bousseksou

Informations complémentaires

Actuation devices that convert various forms of energy into motion are an integral part of everyday life. However, there is currently a significant need for actuator technologies to provide flexible motion that can mimic human motion and dexterity. This project aims to use molecular volume variations during the spin crossover phenomenon (bistability) that occurs within coordination chemistry complexes to achieve controllable mechanical actuation, making these materials a proof of concept for artificial muscles that can be integrated into robotics and micro/nano-mechanics. To enable a radical leap forward in this field, this work will focus on the development of nano-composite materials, based on these bistable molecules (electro)mechanically coupled to other constituents, notably polymers. The resulting innovative synergistic properties of these composites and nano-composites could be used for electrical actuation and self-sensing, which would constitute a major breakthrough. More fundamentally, this project aims to gain an in-depth understanding of the relationships between the structures and mechanical properties of these switchable materials: an essential approach to optimising their function. A multi-scale experimental approach will therefore be used to assess how molecular deformation and changes in molecular connectivity under external stimuli affect macroscopic mechanical properties and lifetime. This multidisciplinary project, which brings together various aspects of inorganic chemistry, polymer chemistry, physical chemistry and materials engineering, will be carried out within the framework of the ERC project EMOTION.
Reference:
1. Molecular actuators driven by cooperative spin-state switching, Nat. Commun. 4 (2013), 2607.
2. Spin crossover polymer composites, polymers and related soft materials, Coord. Chem. Rev. 419 (2020) 213396.
3. 4D printing with spin-crossover polymer composites, J. Mater. Chem. C 8 (2020) 6001
4. Colossal expansion and fast motion in spin-crossover@polymer actuators, Mater. Horiz. 8 (2021) 3055.
5. Soft Actuators Based on Spin-Crossover Particles Embedded in Thermoplastic Polyurethane, Adv. Intell. Syst. (2023) 2200432
6. Anisotropic spin-crossover composite actuators displaying pre-programmed movements, Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical 393 (2023) 134147