PhD contract offer - New membranes loaded with carbon/MOF hybrids for liquid and gas phase appl[...]

PhD contract offer - New membranes loaded with carbon/MOF hybrids for liquid and gas phase applications

Workplace: Epinal, France
Type of contract: PhD contract funded by Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Training Network
Contract period: 36 months
Expected date of employment: Between 1 August (soonest) and 1 October 2025 (latest)
Proportion of work: Full time
Remuneration: About 4557 € gross/month, i.e., about 2630 € net/month
Desired level of education: Master’s degree in materials science or chemical engineering

Experience required:

The work will be carried out within the framework of the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Training Network PhotoBrane (“Photo-tuning membranes for molecular separation”). PhotoBrane is at the forefront of innovation, developing next-generation photo-tunable and photo-regenerable membranes. These ground-breaking membranes potentially transform industries such as energy conversion, biomedical applications, water purification, and environmental protection by enhancing selectivity, permeability, and operational longevity.

The proposed doctoral research project, “New membranes loaded with carbon/MOF hybrids for liquid and gas phase applications”, will aim to:

• Prepare MOF/carbon hybrid materials of high surface area to be used as fillers in mixed matrix membranes (MMMs);
• Prepare and apply such MMMs for water treatment;
• Incorporate dyes in MOF/carbon hybrids, depending on pH and temperature;
• Develop photo-responsive MMMs;
• Explore applicability of the Ideal Absorbed Solution Theory (IAST) to describe the adsorption equilibria of gaseous binary mixtures.

Expected results:

• Availability of new MOF/carbon hybrid materials with enhanced surface area and adsorption capacity;
• New MMMs based on such hybrids, incorporating dyes or not, and with various surface properties;
• Understanding changes in porosity, surface properties and performance over the lifetime of MMMs for gas- or liquid-phase applications;
• Understanding the limits of IAST and potentially develop it to account for photo-tuning;
• Demonstration of photo-tunable molecular sieving MOF/carbon hybrid MMMs.

Keywords: Nanoporous carbons; MOFs; Mixed matrix membranes; Porosity; Photo-tunable molecular sieving.

Themes / Context:

Inspired by the switching of optical and transport properties in liquid crystalline polymers under electrical or thermal stimuli, as well as pioneering research on photo-tunable polymer membranes, zeolites, and MOFs, the PHOTOBRANE project integrates photo-switchable molecules into molecular sieves and polymers. A consortium team has already demonstrated that visible light can modulate absorption and release in core-shell MOF particles using fluorinated azobenzenes. However, MOFs have certain limitations, including thermal and chemical stability, cycling performance, and sensitivity to trace contaminants. This thesis will focus on hybridizing MOFs with nanocarbons, aiming to enhance performance and improve properties through synergistic effects and interfacial property engineering.

Work context:

Supervision will take place at the Epinal site of the Institut Jean Lamour (ENSTIB Campus). It will be complementary in terms of skills in composite, carbon and MOF materials synthesis and characterization, and in physicochemical properties and associated modeling.

Skills:

The candidate will join a research team specialised in materials science, the "Biosourced Materials" team of the Institut Jean Lamour (IJL, UMR CNRS 7198), housed in the premises of ENSTIB, in Epinal. He/she will need to have a very strong background in materials science, chemistry or chemical engineering, but knowledge of membranes and related processes will be particularly appreciated. The candidate will have to demonstrate a great ease with the techniques of preparation and characterization of materials. Knowledge of porosity determination and associated properties will be a real plus. He/she will have to be dynamic, curious and persevering in order to carry out the multiple syntheses, characterisations, tests and interpretations of the results, and to demonstrate the ability to work in a team.

Please note: not all applications are necessarily eligible. Indeed, as this is a PhD thesis within the framework of a European doctoral network, the European mobility rule stipulates that applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activities in the country of the hosting organization for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the application deadline, and must not have already obtained a doctoral degree.

Applications that do not meet these conditions will not be considered.

About Institut Jean Lamour:

The Institut Jean Lamour (IJL) is a joint research unit (UMR 7198) of CNRS and Université de Lorraine. The IJL is focused on materials and processes in science and engineering, and covers activities in condensed matter physics, materials, metallurgy, plasmas, surfaces, nanomaterials and electronics. The IJL staff consists of 183 researchers/lecturers, 91 engineers/technicians/ administrative staff, 150 doctoral students and 25 post-doctoral fellows. The IJL has active partnerships with 150 companies and our research groups collaborate with researchers from more than 30 countries throughout the world.

Application:

Only high quality applications will be considered: Master 2 average ≥ 14/20, 1st quartile, international experience required. Applicants who do not meet these requirements are asked not to submit an application.

Women are especially encouraged to apply. Applications should consist of a cover letter including a motivation statement, a curriculum vitae, a list of publications, the contact details of two references, together with diploma copies and/or marks obtained during the Master degree, and send it to:

Then, interviews will be organised and visits of the labs will be possible on request.