Description du sujet de thèse

Spin conversion materials switch between electronic states under the effect of temperature or pressure. The large entropy changes associated with an abrupt transition make these materials ideal for integrating recently developed innovative solid-state cooling technologies, barocaloric (hydrostatic pressure) or elastocaloric (anisotropic deformation). We are studying them to design a heat exchanger as part of an ambitious European innovation project on new sustainable refrigeration technologies.
The thesis brings together expertise and developments in green chemistry, physical measurements under pressure and the shaping of molecular ceramics by sintering. The aim of this project is to study the flow chemistry (milli- or microfluidic) of the materials of interest in order to optimise the environmental impact of synthesis using green techniques. The objective will be 1) to optimise the continuous flow process; 2) to study the structural, morphological, crystallographic, calorimetric and magnetic properties at variable T and p of materials suitable for barocaloric refrigeration; 3) to develop a scale-up of the production of materials in flow; 4) to obtain dense objects to be integrated into the heat exchanger targeted by sintering.
Background in process chemistry and continuous flow chemistry, fluency in English and teamwork desirable.

Contexte de travail

This contract is part of the development at ICMCB of barocaloric refrigeration, a wide-ranging topic funded by CNRS Innovation (BAROQUE project), the french ANR agency (BREF and MolBaroFrige projects), and the European Innovation Council (FROSTBIT project). ICMCB is coordinating the FROSTBIT consortium, which has been selected amongst the 10 consortia funded in the EIC Pathfinder Challenge portfolio "Clean and Efficient Cooling" (2024-2028, 36 M€). All consortia will collaborate on innovative alternative refrigeration solutions to the traditional vapour-compression technology which is a heavy emitter of Green House Gases. The main objective of the ICMCB research is to use the significant entropy variation observed in Spin Crossover compounds when they change electronic states due to an external mechanical constraint (hydrostatic pressure or anisotropic strain). The expertise acquired at ICMCB on those compounds, their study under pressure, and lately the possibility to sinter them into macroscopic scale objects, is crucial for the achievement of the FROSBIT project. This work aims to prepare new suitable materials and study their phase diagrams with pressure and temperature.
This work will be carried out under the supervision of Patrick Rosa (CNRS Researcher) and Guillaume Chastanet (CNRS research director), within the Molecular and Switchable Materials team. This team brings together synthetic chemists and physicist who work together to study the properties of metal complexes in the solid-state (e.g., spin transition, properties related to chirality, charge transport,...).
Founded in 1995, the Bordeaux Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry (ICMCB) focuses its research on Solid-State Chemistry, Materials Science, and Molecular Sciences: designing, preparing, shaping, and characterizing materials to discover, control, and optimize specific functions. ICMCB conducts fundamental research on model materials and/or those with potential applications.
ICMCB is a Joint Research Unit (UMR) with an average of 270 staff members (permanent and non-permanent) and has three supervisory bodies. It is hosted by CNRS and located in a
The position falls within an area related to the protection of scientific and technical potential (PPST) and, therefore, requires, in accordance with regulations, the authorization of the MESR competent authority for the arrival of the staff member.

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

The PhD student will carry out synthesis in organic and inorganic chemistry, and above all will be required to use pressurised equipment, within the framework of the laboratory's safety measures. He/she will be required to work in an international environment, with daily exchanges with non-French speakers, and in particular to regularly present his/her results in English both locally (work and group meetings) and as part of the FROSTBIT Consortium, and to participate in the portfolio activities of the European programme.