Engineer | University of Toulouse/INP ENSIACET (2010-2013) |
M. Sc. | University of Toulouse (2012-2013) |
Ph.D. | University of Toulouse/LPCNO (Dr. Bruno Chaudret), France (2013-2016) |
Post-Doc | RWTH Aachen University (Prof. Dr. Walter Leitner), Germany (2017-2018) |
Group Leader | 'Multifunctional Catalytic Systems', MPI CEC (seit 2018) |
Full publications list | ORCID
In the “Multifunctional Catalytic Systems” group, we focus on the synthesis, characterization, and application in catalysis of metallic nanoparticles immobilized on molecularly modified surfaces (NPs@MMS, Figure 1). We are especially interested in combining molecular design (molecular modifier structure) and nanoparticle design to produce innovative catalytic systems providing control over the activation mode of dihydrogen (H2).
Molecular modifiers commonly used in our group include small organic molecules, ionic liquids, and polymers. Metal nanoparticles (e.g. Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Ru, Rh, and bimetallic) are synthesized through the decomposition of organometallic precursors directly in the MMS under mild conditions. This organometallic approach provides a fine control over the nanoparticles size, dispersion, and in the case of bimetallic nanoparticles, composition. In addition, this insures a close contact between the metal NPs and the molecular modifiers, leading to high NPs stability and strong synergistic effects.
The resulting NPs@MMS systems are fully tunable, and a rational choice of the individual parameters (nature of the metal nanoparticles, molecular modifier and its functionality, support) allows producing multifunctional catalytic systems with tailor-made reactivity. Selective hydrogenation and hydrodeoxygenation reactions are specifically targeted, with applications including fine chemical synthesis, biomass conversion and CO2 valorization.
Besides purely chemical functions, we are also interested in the development of multifunctional catalysts combining chemical and physical functionalities (e.g. magnetic properties), with the idea to go towards switchable and adaptive catalytic systems.