WISELY : NeW chemIstries for the deSign of rEcyclable poLYmers
Description of the PhD project
The C3M laboratory is internationally recognized for its expertise in designing, synthesizing, and studying recyclable and/or self-healing materials.1-4 Recently, the laboratory developed new additives that enable the recycling and upcycling of polyolefins and their blends, including post-consumer waste, through reactive processing.5,6 The additives are triazine azides that decompose to form triplet nitrenes at typical polymer processing temperatures. These nitrenes can graft onto organic polymers, such as polyolefins and polyesters, and also oligomerize to form mechanically reversible polyazane crosslinking sites.5 This allows for the creation of polymers with new properties, such as high-temperature creep resistance and adhesion between incompatible polymers, as well as improved properties, such as increased ductility and mechanical strength in polyolefin blends.
Through the "New Chemistries for the Design of Recyclable Polymers" (WISELY) project, we aim to develop new mechanically reversible chemical groups that will make thermoplastics, thermosets, and plastic blends more recyclable and easier to process.
The project WISELY will focus in a first stage on synthesizing and characterizing (using 1H, 13C, 15N, and 2D NMR, as well as mass spectrometry, among other techniques) new functional groups that incorporate mechanically reversible chemical bonds.
These new links will then be incorporated into various polymer matrices (thermoplastics and
thermosets) during polymer synthesis or through reactive processing of commercial polymers. Various types of polymer matrices (polyesters, polyolefins, polyurethanes, polystyrene, poly(meth)acrylates, etc.) will be tested. The physicochemical, thermomechanical, and tensile properties of these new materials will be studied in detail, notably using TGA, DSC, SEC, DMA, TEM, SEM, and tensile testing. The processability and recyclability of these materials will also be investigated. In particular, the linear and non-linear rheology of the materials will be thoroughly investigated in collaboration with the group of Prof. Evelyne van Ruymbeke at the Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain) in Belgium. Research secondments will be conducted in the group
of Prof. van Ruymbeke at UCLouvain for this purpose.
The project WISELY is expected to result in the publication of articles in leading scientific journals, oral presentations at national and international conferences, and potentially patent applications. Based on the results, industrial collaborations may be established to test these new chemistries in various application areas, such as construction, transportation, and adhesives.
Keywords
Polymers, (Macro)Molecular Synthesis, Dynamic Covalent Chemistry, Recycling, Advanced Characterization
Research Unit, UMR number and acronym
ESPCI - Laboratoire Chimie Moléculaire, Macromoléculaire, Matériaux, UMR7167, C3M
Description of the research Unit/subunit
The C3M unit develops and exploits synthetic chemistry at all scales, from molecules to materials.
The unit is organized into three complementary teams, creating a continuum of well-identified and recognized expertise in molecular and macromolecular synthesis, and in the physical chemistry of soft matter.
The research topics developed in the unit and the methodologies implemented reflect the broad spectrum of skills and expertise of its members. Nevertheless, they can be grouped according to generic themes, revealing thematic coherence and the possibility of synergies. – Exploring molecular diversity : strained cycles, Development of exchangeable reactions – Sustainable chemistry : catalysis with naturally abundant metals, enzymatic catalysis, photocatalysis, continuous flow chemistry, solvent-free syntheses, reactive extrusion. –Materials using dynamic covalent chemistry – Architectural systems for medicine, robotics and polymer materials – Formulation of functional colloidal gels and glasses.
Name of the supervisor
Renaud Nicolaÿ (renaud.nicolay@espci.psl.eu)
Name of the co-supervisor
Nathan Van Zee (nathan.van-zee@espci.psl.eu)
3i Aspects of the proposal
Formal meetings with both supervisors will be organized every three to four weeks to discuss project progress. Additional meetings can be arranged at any time at the request of the Ph.D. student. Lab seminars are held weekly, and each student is expected to present once or twice a year. Team meetings are held monthly, and each student is expected to present once or twice a year.
Intersectoriality
The C3M laboratory has a long history of industrial collaborations resulting from its fundamental research and the intellectual property generated by this activity. The research underpinning the WISELY project (DOI : 10.1021/jacs.3c12303 ; DOI : 10.1021/acsapm.4c04096) has been the subject of a patent application and has led to the establishment of several ongoing collaborations with industrial partners in the automotive and construction sectors. We hope and expect that the research resulting from the WISELY project will also lead to patent applications and, subsequently, to the establishment of industrial collaborations.
International
The project will be carried out in collaboration with Prof. Evelyne van Ruymbeke at the Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain) in Belgium. The linear and non-linear rheology of the materials
will be thoroughly investigated in collaboration with Prof. van Ruymbeke, a recognized expert of polymer rheology. For this purpose, research secondments, for a duration of at least one month, will be conducted in the group of Prof. van Ruymbeke at UCLouvain. The project WISELY will also benefit from the existing collaborations of the C3M laboratory and of Prof. van Ruymbeke with numerous European academic groups and industrial partners specializing in the physical chemistry, modeling and processing of polymer materials and dynamic covalent networks. These collaborations are through the Doctoral Network ReBond (HORIZON-MSCA-2022-DN-01, REA Grant Agreement No. 101119786 ; https://www.rebondproject.eu/).
Interdisciplinarity
The WISELY project is inherently interdisciplinary. It involves molecular and macromolecular organic synthesis, as well as the advanced chemical, physical, and mechanical characterization of polymer materials and polymer processing engineering.
Expected profile of the candidate
The candidate must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in molecular chemistry and/or polymer chemistry, and be interested in conducting research at the intersection of molecular chemistry and
polymer materials science. Practical experience in academic laboratories focusing on molecular or polymer chemistry will be a significant asset. The candidate should be passionate about science, interested in interdisciplinary research, and eager to discover and learn numerous characterization techniques.
Important dates
Call for applications : from September 1st to October 31st 2026
Eligibility check results : November
3i Committee evaluation results : December
Interviews from the shortlisted candidates with the Selection Committee : January 2027
Start of the PhD : March 1st 2027