Research themes

Catalysis at Polymers’ Service: from synthesis to chemical recycling

My research activity includes a first central theme dedicated to catalysis (of polymerization) with a first aspect of polymerization of olefins and conjugated dienes and a second aspect of polycondensation / polyaddition catalysis a and crosslinking catalysis.

A second part of my research is devoted to hybrid catalysis / radical mechanisms.

A third part departs from the theme of polymerization catalysis while remaining in the field of polymerization of olefins. It concerns the radical polymerization of ethylene under mild conditions.

A fourth part, finally, is devoted to the use of catalysis in the chemical recycling of polymers and therefore in depolymerization.

Current Research Projects

Catalysis (of polymerization)

- Heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta polymerization of olefins: from titanium to iron

- Innovative catalysis for conjugated dienes polymerization (Joint lab CHEMISTALB with Michelin)

- Hydrosilylation catalysis for silicones (collaboration with Elkem Silicones)

- Catalysis for polyurethane synthesis and crosslinking (Collaboration with Bostik)

 

Hybrid catalysis / radical polymerization mechanisms

- Synthesis of polar polyolefins

- Synthesis of polar elastomers (POLARITY ANR project)

 

Radical polymerization of ethylene under mild conditions

- Synthesis of architectures from controlled radical homo- and co-polymerization of ethylene

- Model polyethylene particles for the study of micro/nano-plastics in the oceans (POEM ANR project)

 

Chemical recycling of polymers / Depolymerization

- Chemical recycling of polyethylene

- Depolymerization of silicones (PSPC Régions REPOS)

- Depolymerization of thermostable specialty polymers (Collaboration with Solvay)

- Functionalization/Depolymerization of polymers using CO2 (DICARBOREX Carnot project)

Supervisions

I am currently (co)supervising :

• Dr Nam (Duc) Vu (Post-doc, 2020-2022) who is developing innovative chemistries for chemical recycling of silicone wastes in the frame of REPOS PSPC Régions project (collaboration with Elkem Silicones, Activation and Processium). Nam is cosupervised with Jean Raynaud (CP2M).
• Mr. Florian Baffie (PhD student, 2018-2021), who is working on the controlled radical polymerization of ethylene via ITP. Florian is cosupervised with Franck D'Agosto and Muriel Lansalot, and his thesis is sponsored by the MESRI.
• Mr James Delorme (PhD student, 2018-2021), who is developing new hydrosilylation catalysis for silicones in collaboration with Elkem Silicones. James is cosupervised with Jean Raynaud (CP2M).
• Mr Nicolas Hall (PhD student, 2019-2022) who is working on innovative catalysis for conjugated dienes polymerization. Nicolas is cosupervised with Jean Raynaud (CP2M).
• Mr Bruno Guerdener (PhD student, 2020-2023) who is developing chemical modifications of polymers by CO2 in the frame of DICARBOREX project (Carnot I@Lyon). Bruno is cosupervised with Jean Raynaud / Véronique DUFAUD (CP2M) and Yvan Chalamet / Véronique Bounor-Legaré (IMP)
• Mr Adamu Aminu Idris (PhD student, 2020-2023) who is developing catalytic routes for chemical recycling of polyethylene. Adamu is cosupervised with Jean Raynaud and Véronique Dufaud.
• Ms Laura Sinniger (PhD student, 2021-2024), who is working on the synthesis of macromolecular architectures based on polyethylene by radical polymerization. Laura is cosupervised with Muriel Lansalot and Franck D’Agosto, and her thesis is sponsored by the MESRI.
• Ms Léa Jacquin (PhD student, 2021-2024), who is working on model polyethylene particles for the study of micro/nano-plastics in the oceans. Léa is cosupervised with Muriel Lansalot, Elodie Bourgeat-Lami and Fabrice Brunel in the frame of POEM ANR project.