ASTICO is a dual-partners project (including an international collaboration) addressing a key unmet meet need for the next generation of Ionic ThermoElectric SuperCapacitors (ITESC). Such an outcome can be realized through the development of 2 building blocks: (i) electrode materials combining both multiscale and controlled porosity (macroporous p/n type Electronically Conducting Polymers (ECP) filled by mesoporous Covalent Organic Frameworks) along with (ii) solid-states polymeric ionic liquids (PIL). Our first hypothesis is that the temperature gradient generated between two electrodes - exhibiting multi-scale porosity - will improve the thermal gradient and boost the thermodiffusion of electrolyte ions towards the interface, hence maximizing their adsorption with a concomitant EDLC/pseudocapacitive effect. As the second hypothesis, the difference in mobility of anions and cations can be significantly amplified if one of the charged species is immobilized onto polymeric chains while the other remains free. Our choice is to develop anionic PILs and cationic PILs in which one charged species is immobilized while the other free to move and vice-versa. We expect the better thermodiffusion process, hence the ionic Seebeck coefficient (iS) will be exalted compared to the best state-of-the-art known performance (iS=26.1 mV.K-1 for free Ionic liquid/PVDF mixture). After achieving strong understanding of the individual components, the associations of electrode material + PILs building blocks in a two-electrode configuration will give birth to the first All-Solid-state ThermoIonic SuperCapacitOr.

Iminosugars constitute one of the most promising classes of glycomimetics as therapeutic agents with several compounds on the market. To improve their glycosidase inhibitory potential, their chemical modulation has been achieved on the endocyclic nitrogen and C-1 position but the lack of innovative synthetic strategies has limited structural diversity. Increasing chemical space is key not only to improve their biological/physico-chemical properties but also to identify new biological activities. The chemical modulation of the C2 position has been poorly scrutinized despite recent encouraging data. Investigating these two positions further is the goal of this project that requires both suitable precursors and innovative methods to rapidly introduce structural diversity in a regio- and stereoselective manner. High structural diversity has been introduced in glycosides thanks to glycals, a subclass of unsaturated monosaccharides. Their metal-assisted functionalization not only allowed their late-stage functionalization at C1 and C2 but also in a stepwise manner at C2 then at C1. We have recently developed several metal-catalyzed methodologies exploiting 2-iodoglycals for the functionalization at C2 position but also for the C1-H functionalization of C2-amidoglycals. Iminoglycals, nitrogen counterparts of glycals, are underexploited synthons and perfect precursors for our purpose and we have been able to functionalize the C2 position under metal-catalyzed conditions starting from an unprecedented 2-iodoiminoglycal. By combining our expertises in glycomimetics and metal-catalyzed functionalization supported by DFT calculations to anticipate the reactivity of these molecules, we plan to unlock the chemistry of iminoglycals to significantly increase the chemical space of iminosugars through chemical modulation of their C1 and C2 positions, a work that should lead to new glycomimetics with biological/therapeutic potential.

Nitrate is one of the top 10 drinking water pollutants above the maximum contamination level worldwide. Conventional nitrate removal technologies generate brines or sludge. Denitrification by electrochemical reduction of nitrate/nitrite (ERN) is a more eco-friendly option for reducing nitrate and nitrite concentrations in drinking-water by generating harmless nitrogen gas (N2) or ammonia (NH3/NH4+) a valuable commodity chemical. However, there is not any available electrocatalyst at present displaying high activity and selective production of one single product. Thus, converting selectively the N-polluted water in either safe drinking-water or an ammonia-rich irrigation effluent for agriculture is the main goal of this project. Thus, the three main objectives in this project are: (1) To impact on the activity and selectivity of electrocatalysts for ERN by immobilizing ionic liquids (ILs) at the electrode surface, (2) fabricate a microsized pH probe for local pH evaluation within the electrode diffusion layer (? 100 µm) by scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) and (3) correlate local pH gradients achieved by ILs immobilization at the electrode surface with selective N2 or NH3/NH4+ production from ERN.

The project will study the poorly documented relationship between geographic and social mobility and their consequences on spatial inequalities. In particular, it will analyze the sources of spatial sorting as well as the role of transportation infrastructure on geographic and social mobility, for two countries with different spatial and political organizations, France and the United States, and for two contrasting periods, the 19th century and the second half of the 20th century. The research team will adopt a multidisciplinary approach and will rely on rich, localized and original historical data, such as information on the evolution of travel speeds. In particular, the project will focus on the role of transportation infrastructure development on local economic and demographic growth, the relocation of individuals and families across space, and access to opportunities (education and work).