Artificial Intelligence applied to Ion Beam Analysis
A one year contract postdoctoral research position is open at the laboratory for light element studies (LEEL, CEA/DRF) and the Data Science for Decision Laboratory (LS2D, DRT/LIST) and focuses on data processing based on AI and machine learning, here in the scope of Ion Beam Analysis (IBA).
In the context of this project, the successful candidate will have to fulfill the following tasks:
1- Design of a multispectral dictionary.
2- Learning module development.
3- Main code programming.
4- Development of a module dedicated to multispectral mappings.
5- Benchmarking.
The postdoctoral research associate will be hosted and supervised within LEEL and LS2D.
Nanostructured negative electrodes for magnesium-ion batteries
The subject is part of an ANR project on the development of negative electrodes for magnesium (Mg)-ion batteries. Magnesium is an excellent alternative to lithium due to its high specific capacity, low cost, abundance on Earth and low reactivity. However, conventional electrolytes interact strongly with metallic magnesium to form a blocking layer on the surface of metallic Mg, inhibiting reversible electrochemical reactions. An interesting solution to overcome this problem is to replace the Mg metal electrode with a material compatible with electrolyte solutions having a large electrochemical stability window. Interestingly, Mg alloy compounds have adequate stability in conventional electrolytes, slightly higher potentials than pure metallic Mg with however lower specific capacities than Mg. As part of an ANR project, the LEEL laboratory develops new alloy compounds for Mg batteries in the form of nanostructured electrodes to overcome volume expansion and slow diffusion of ions during the alloying with Mg.
In this project, the postdoctoral associate will first be in charge of the fundamental understanding of the reactivity towards the electrolyte of the alloys developed in the laboratory, notably through impedance spectroscopy and XPS. Secondly, the postdoctoral associate will deal with the electrode and electrolyte formulation’s optimization with a systematic comparison of electrochemical performances in half-cell. Finally, full Mg-ion cells will be made with the better electrode/electrolyte combination.
Plastic recycling enabled by toxic additives extraction using green solvents
It is important to develop the scientific knowledge and stimulate innovations to recycling Plastics. The extremely large variety of plastic based objects that we use in our daily life are made of a wide range of plastic materials covering many different polymers, many different formulations. Plastics objects are also used for many purposes and there is therefore the need of various ways to collect, sort and treat them.
Methods of recycling of plastics are generally divided into four categories: primary, secondary, tertiary, and qua-ternary (see Figure 9). Primary recycling or closed loop recycling method is considered when the materials after recycling present equal or improved properties compared to the initial or virgin materials. When the recyclates present a decrease in the properties level, one may spook about secondary or down-cycling method. In tertiary (also known as chemical or feedstock) recycling method, the waste stream is converted into monomers or chemicals that could be advantageously used in the chemical industries. Finally, quaternary (also known as thermal recycling, energy recovery, and energy from waste) recycling method corresponds to the recovery of plastics as energy and is not considered as recycling for Circular Economy.
Various processes can be considered for chemical recycling which present different level of maturity. Hence this project that will study the decontamination of various PVC formulations using green solvents, and more particularly supercritical CO2
This work located in Saclay, France, in the heart of the University Paris-Saclay and will benefit from a very multidisciplinary and international environment.
This work will benefit from the prestigious framework of the France 2030 funding, and more precisely the PEPR Recycling (https://www.cnrs.fr/fr/pepr/pepr-recyclabilite-recyclage-et-reincorporation-des-materiaux-recycles ). It will be supervised by Dr. Jean-Christophe P. Gabriel: linkedin.com/in/jcpgabriel).