Physical Chemistry of Materials and Electrolytes for Energy (PCM2E)

The PCM2E is built around skills in electro­chemistry, thermodynamics and organic and inorganic materials chemistry (synthesis, cha­racterization, modeling, properties). The PCM2E’s themes are divided into three mains areas dealing with nanostructured materials and composites, or­ganic pi-conjugated materials and electrolytes (liquids, DES, polymers, gels) for «energy» applications associated with batteries, supercapacitors, solar cells and thermoe­lectricity.

Research topics:

•    Electrochemistry, interfaces and devices for energy storage
•    Innovative electrolytes and advanced ionic media
•    Pi-conjugated materials and polymers

Equipment and technology:

Apparatus for physico-chemical, thermal and macromolecu­lar analysis :

• DSC, TGA, SEC, Calorimeters (ARC and C80)
• FTIR, UV-Visible, Time Resolved Fluorescence, Raman, NMR
• Densities/viscosity/speed of sound, Equipment to determine fluid phase equilibrium (vapour pressure, gas solubility, etc.), contact angle equipment, Karl Fisher
• Microbalance (μg)
• Porosimeter (specific surface area and pore size distribution)
• Four-point device

Thin Film apparatus: Spin coating, hand coating, pneumatic deposition, inkjet printing, Electrospray

Electrochemical apparatus: Cycling (potentiostats-galvanostats), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (Biologic), Solartron frequency analyser, Ionic and electronic conductivity measure­ments (automated measurements on 18 cells from -40 to 80°C), Electrochemistry platform under inert atmos­phere, Quartz crystal microbalance / electrochemistry (EQCM), Electrochemical dilatometer

Apparatus for Li-ion batteries and supercapacitors:

3 Glove boxes with oxygen and moisture sensors, coin cells, pouch cells, Swageloks electrochemical cells (2 and 3 electrodes), EL-Cell (3 electrodes), hydraulic press

Synthesis apparatus:

Technical means for the synthesis and characterization of molecules and polymers (evaporators, silica gel and flash chromatography, glassware for synthesis (under controlled atmosphere), vacuum ramps, desiccators, sublimation equipment ...), synthesis under microwave, ball milling, tube and muffle furnaces, ultrasound probe, and centrifuge.