Deposition of Mixed Oxide Nanostrucrured Coatings by Solution Precursor Plasma Spray for Disinf[...]

Institut de Recherche sur les Céramiques; Nouvelle-Aquitaine; Sur place; EUR 60 000 - 80 000; Temps partiel

Résumé du poste

A leading research institute in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France, is seeking a Supervisor for a project on nanostructured heterogeneous junction coatings. The role involves optimizing coating properties and researching photocatalytic applications. Ideal candidates will have a master's degree in materials science or be in their final year of engineering school, with familiarity in semiconductors and photocatalysis. This internship opportunity offers a chance to work on cutting-edge water treatment technologies.

Qualifications

• Must be familiar with semiconductors, photocatalysis, and electrochemistry.
• Motivated and rigorous person who can work in a team and is autonomous.

Responsabilités

• Produce nanostructured heterogeneous junction coatings.
• Optimize relationships between operating parameters and coating properties.
• Investigate photocatalytic properties of coatings.

Connaissances

Familiarity with semiconductors

Familiarity with photocatalysis

Familiarity with electrochemistry

Ability to work in a team

Autonomy

Formation

Second year of a master’s degree in materials science or final year of engineering school

Description du poste

Supervisor

• Alan Kéromnès, Professor
• Mathieu Tartarin, PhD Student
• Vincent Rat CNRS senior researcher

Context and objective of the study:

Water treatment technologies that use sustainable, less energy‑intensive processes with reduced use of chemicals, such as photocatalysis, are becoming crucial due to global warming. To address these challenges, the ANR PASSION project, of which this internship is a part, aims to produce nanostructured mixed oxide coatings using Solution Precursor Plasma Spraying (SPPS) for disinfection by means of photocatalysis.

SPPS process belongs to the thermal spraying family wherein raw materials, like ceramic powders, suspensions or solution precursors, are injected within a high enthalpy and momentum source to be sprayed onto a prepared substrate to form a coating. SPPS has been extensively studied for protective coating applications such thermal barrier coatings for high pressure turbines. When the precursor solution is injected into the plasma jet as liquid stream, liquid primary fragmentation takes place resulting in droplets. Solvent is subsequently evaporated resulting in precipitation of a precursor solute which is then pyrolyzed and sintered, before being melt [1]. Recently, it was shown that mono‑oriented ZnO coating for photocatalysis application can be obtained as a thin film on polycrystalline alumina and sapphire single crystals. Coating analysis has suggested a crystal synthesis directly upon the substrate opening up a new synthesis route by means of SPPS [2].

The objective of the internship is to produce nanostructured heterogeneous junction coatings of mixed oxides such as ZnO / CuO or ZnO / SnO₂ while establishing and optimizing the relationships between the operating parameters and the coatings properties. Following this study, the photocatalytic properties of the coatings obtained will be investigated. This study will focus in particular on the ability of the materials to degrade organic pollutants such as methylene blue using a lamp emitting at nm (UV), for example, but also on the electrochemical study of reactions by linear and cyclic voltammetry, polarization curves, and electrochemical impedance measurements at the electrolyte‑electrode interface in order to determine the effectiveness of coatings and their service life.

[1] M. Gell, E.H. Jordan, M. Teicholz, B.M. Cetegen, N.P. Padture, L. Xie, D. Chen, X. Ma, J. Roth, Thermal Barrier Coatings Made by the Solution Precursor Plasma Spray Process, J. Therm. Spray Technol. 17 – .

[2] M. Tartarin, P. Duport, G. Rivaud, L. Youssef, S. Goutier, V. Rat, P. André, A. Kéromnès, Oriented ZnO nanostructured coatings deposited by Solution Precursor Plasma Spraying, Surfaces and Interfaces 72 .

Profile

We are looking for a student in their second year of a master’s degree or in their final year of engineering school (in materials science). The candidate must be familiar with semiconductors, photocatalysis, and electrochemistry or plasma projection. We are looking for a motivated, rigorous person who is able to work in a team and is autonomous.

Starting date

• 02-24