PhD thesis : Nanostructured Polyelectrolyte Coacervate For Energy Storage

Context and Research Project:

This thesis explores an original approach to making energy storage capacitors composed of eco-friendly waterborne polyelectrolyte coacervates using a cost-effective 3D printing technique. Water-processable polyelectrolytes are ideal candidates to develop structural and/or biological materials.[1] Unfortunately, they have long been considered unsuitable for dielectric applications due to the presence of counterions. However, previous theoretical and experimental investigations have shown that these counterions can be totally or partially released through the charge compensation of two oppositely charged polyelectrolytes while forming complex coacervates.[2] We will, for the first time, use functional coacervates in dielectric capacitors for high-energy storage. Attractive coacervate features, such as tunable net charges, self-assembled nanostructures, and shear-thining rheological properties, allow for direct 3D printing of high-energy storage devices. These innovative energy systems are lightweight, resistant, scalable, and adaptable to be printed into flexible/wearable electronics. Fundamentally, it is expected to advance our understanding of dielectric polarizations in polyelectrolyte-rich systems.

Domain:

• Innovative and green materials for a sustainable society
• Interdisciplinary, at the interfaces of the field of soft matter, materials engineering, and electronics

Mission:

A three-year Ph.D. position is open at LCMCP (CNRS, Sorbonne Univeristy). The project will start with a bulk coacervate formed through macroscopic phase separation[3]. Then, more organized hierarchical nanostructures, such as coacervate-core micelles and coacervate-layer lamellae are proposed.[4] These nanostructures will be generated through electrostatically driven assembly of double hydrophilic ionic/neutral block copolymers with oppositely charged homopolyelectrolytes. We will use serval techniques (rheometers, tensile test machines, SEM, TEM, 3D printing, dielectric spectroscopy) for the formulation and characterization of these coacervate assemblies. 

1. Chen, S.; Guo, Q.; Yu, J. Aggregate, 2022, 3, e293

2. Che, J.; Zakri, C.; Ly, I.; Neri, W.; Laurichesse, E.; Chapel, J.-P.; Poulin, P.; Yuan, J. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2023, 33, 2213804.

3. Liu, X. Q.; Haddou, M.; Grillo, I.; Mana, Z.; Chapel, J. P.; Schatz, C. Soft Matter 2016,12, 9030.

4. Rumyantsev, A. M.; Zhulina, E. B.; Borisov, O. V.. ACS Macro Lett. 2018, 7, 811-816.

Funding category: Contrat doctoral



PHD title: Doctorat de physique et chimie des masteriaux

PHD Country: France