Description du sujet de thèse

Asymmetric patchy particles and complex nanoscale organization from combined colloidal and block copolymer assembly

In the framework of the LIGHT “Major Research Programme” (GPR LIGHT - https://light-st.u-bordeaux.fr/) at the University of Bordeaux, a Ph.D. candidate is sought to work on optically-active surface obtained by colloidal and polymer assembly for application in advanced plasmonics. The Ph.D. candidate will work at the interface between two research groups: the “polymer materials for electronic, energy and information” team at LCPO and the “colloids, interfaces, assemblies” team at CRPP.
In this project, we propose to combine colloidal assembly of nanoparticles with block copolymer self-assembly, in order to produce both asymmetric patchy particles and complex nanoscale particles organization. Two strategies are envisioned to pursue these objectives:
• an iterative self-assembly strategy involving the formation of a monolayer of nanoparticles covered by a nanostructured block copolymer film in order to form an asymmetric coverage of the particles surface (see Figure for preliminary results).
• the generation of complex nanoscale particles organization by exploiting phase separation and photo-imprinting of block copolymers co-assembled with nanoparticles. The generated phase-separated block copolymer domains will be used as “molds” where nanoparticles will be selectively grafted or incorporated in one of the block copolymer nanodomains.

Accordingly, this project aims at deciphering the complex interplay between colloidal assembly and polymer self-assembly in order to produce unprecedented plasmonic nanostructures. Determining the relationship between structural and optical properties will be a central part of the study, in order to establish design rules for the formation of advanced plasmonic surfaces.

Contexte de travail

The Laboratory of Chemistry of Organic Polymers (LCPO) is a joint research unit affiliated to the CNRS, the University of Bordeaux and the Institut Polytechnique de Bordeaux (http://www.lcpo.fr). The LCPO is organized into 4 research teams with a total strength of nearly 150 people, including about 50 permanent staff.

With over 30 years of expertise in polymer chemistry, researches at LCPO aim at:
- developing innovative methodologies for precision synthesis of polymers, using in particular biomimetic and/or green chemistry pathways
- designing functional polymer materials by macromolecular engineering and self-assembly, in the fields of renewable materials, health and energy
- establishing strong links with the socio-economy world.

The work of the recruited agent will be carried out in team 4 of the LCPO