The selectivity in transformation of monosaccharides by acido-basic catalysts is a critical point for the development of biomass conversion processes. The objective of this project is to understand at the molecular level the main parameters governing the selectivity of these transformations in Lewis acidic zeolite catalysts. The original approach consist in examining together the different primary reactions of sugars (epimerization, isomerization, retro-aldolisation, dehydration) while considering the differences in reactivity of different sugars from biomass (mainly glucose, xylose and fructose) and several characteristics of the zeolite materials (cation, pore structure...) The study based on two complementary approaches : experimental work including synthesis of materials and kinetic study, and theoretical work consisting in molecular modeling of the possible reaction pathways (DFT).

The development of the market of electric or hybrid vehicles is of paramount importance in order to limit urban pollution and global green house gas emissions. The development of models for batteries requires characterization techniques that are able to determine the local concentration of lithium at the micrometer scale. Few techniques can fulfill this need. We propose to develop the quantitative microscopy of lithium by combining a LIBS (Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) imaging system with a second synchronized laser (Laser-Induced Fluorescence). Such a coupling has for ambition to divide by ten the common spatial resolution to reach the micrometer while preserving a sufficient sensitivity. The elemental images will be turned quantitative with the help of calibration curves. Electrodes will be put into controlled state of charge and their bulk lithium concentration will be independently determined by inductive coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. The project aims to build a prototype, to measure its analytical performance and to demonstrate its contribution to the characterization of lithium batteries on show cases.

Metal nanoparticles (MNPs) are well-established tools in catalysis, providing higher activities than both bulk surfaces and molecular catalysts in several reactions, specifically hydrogenations. However, there is a lack of mechanistic understanding as well as tools allowing predicting value and guidance toward further optimisation. One of the challenges in nanocatalysis is to have highly active, selective, robust (long lifetime) and recyclable catalysts. The synthesis of stable MNP dispersions from homogeneous solutions requires a stabiliser, often an organic ligand or a polymer. A recently developped concept that advantageously combines “homogeneous” reaction conditions with a “heterogeneous” catalyst recovery is the embedding of the MNPs in the hydrophobic cores of amphiphilic core-cross linked polymer micelles (CCMs), which form stable aqueous dispersions and act as individual catalytic nanoreactors in an aqueous biphasic catalysis protocol. Migration of the reactants and products across the core-cross linked polymer micelle hydrophilic shell is facile. The catalytic transformation occurs within the “homogeneous” core-cross linked polymer micelle core and the product/catalyst separation is accomplished by simple phase decantation. The MNPatCCM project aims at optimising the performance of catalytic CCM-type nanoreactors made of metal (rhodium, nickel) nanoparticles anchored to ligand-functionalized cores of core-crosslinked polymer micelles for hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis/hydrodeoxygenation reactions. The anchoring ligands in core-crosslinked polymer micelles will be introduced using polymerizable versions of the molecular stabilizers previously investigated in organic colloidal dispersions. The effect of added bases will be investigated in order to determine the relevance of integrating such a promoter in the core-crosslinked polymer micelles structure for guiding the hydrogenation activation and, consequently, the improvement of catalytic performance. The activities and selectivities obtained with the metal nanoparticles dispersed in an organic medium will help the design of novel core-crosslinked polymer micelles based on core engineering for aqueous biphasic hydrogenations and hydrogenolysis/hydrodeoxygenations, with particular attention to recycling and sustainability concerns (increasing the efficiency of the use of metals, of particular for noble metal Rh). After improving the catalytic performance of rhodium-loaded catalytic nanoreactors, the synthesis strategy will be extended to the development of similar systems embedding nanoparticles of a first-row abundant metal, namely nickel. This will allow addressing a key concern in catalysis, namely to replace noble metals by less critical ones, in terms of abundance and cost. The substrate screening and condition optimisation will take advantage of methods adapted to determine the relevance of the best catalysts at the industrial scale. The ultimate goal will be to perform economic analysis and life cycle assessment for the most promising catalytic reactions with substrates of industrial interest.

The purpose of the project GENERATE (Renewable Energies Geopolitics and Future Studies on Energy Transition) is to analyze the geopolitical consequences of a spread of renewable energies worldwide. This project will focus particularly on three major issues, namely (1) the criticality of energy transition materials for energy technologies (electric vehicle, solar panel, wind turbine etc.) (2) the new geography of patents for the renewable energy technologies and (3) the oil producing countries development model, and their places on the international energy scene. Raw materials criticality in the development of energy transition technologies: GENERATE aims to analyze key markets (copper, cement, cobalt, platinum, some rare earths metal and water) in terms of a criticality-vulnerability matrix. Many of them are essential in decarbonisation technologies in the transportation sector and in the energy production sector. They could become a key driver of technologies prices and could contribute to a limitation (or at the opposite to an expansion) of the diffusion of different technologies. The widespread diffusion of energy transition technologies could then trigger or expand tensions in those commodity markets. The energy transition factor could then add a new piece of complexity for these markets. Specific factors such as the substitutes on the market, the market size, the existence of futures market, the industrial organization will be studied in order to get a complete picture from an economic, technological and geopolitical point of view. A preliminary work based on Times Markal model will contribute to give a big picture of the energy technologies diffusion around the world in 2050. Industrial property rights (patents): In 2015 the investment in the four major decarbonisation technologies (biofuels, wind, solar photovoltaic and solar thermal) reached a record around 286 billion dollars. For the first time developing countries' investments in renewable energies exceeded those of developed countries. Among the emerging countries China represented about one third of global investment. These dynamics create many geopolitical concerns regarding the localization of renewable energy innovation and the existence of a new “market power” for the different countries (companies) or group of countries: the United States, Asia (Japan, China) Europe (notably Germany). GENERATE proposes to analyze the new geography of energy transition technologies and to review the new form of cooperation (or struggle) into this field. This mapping will contribute to enlarge the scope of the energy transition analysis. It will contribute to study the new forms of interaction between industrial actors and to propose a normative framework of global environmental architecture regarding technology transfers and decarbonisation technology financing for developing countries. The development model of hydrocarbon-producing countries: the diffusion of renewable energies in the global energy mix would also affect fossil fuel producing countries in several ways: energy prices, fossil-fuel consumption, energy investments in the petroleum sector, international finance (petrodollars recycling, etc. Energy transition dynamics could then become a game changer in the regional and international balances and more especially in Middle East and Caspian Sea countries. GENERATE will study the energy transition within the hydrocarbon producing countries in order to understand the diversification process in those countries and the strategy of the different players involved in this scheme (States, national company, etc.). A geopolitical analysis will also be carried out in order to build a matrix of risk associated to energy transition. Scenarios for those the two different regions will be explored and we will analyze the consequences of the transition dynamics for the consuming countries and more especially for the European countries.