Post-doc position available in 2009 at IRCELYON, Villeurbanne, FRANCE
Development of NMR methodologies to study zeolite crystallization
The following project is part of the CADENCED programme between the King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) Catalysis Center of Excellence and the ICE partnership (IFP/CNRS/ENS Lyon).
Context
Hydrothermal synthesis of microporous catalytic materials occurs through a very complex and poorly understood mechanism. As a result, since the first descriptions of zeolites syntheses at the end of the 19^th century like Levynite's synthesis by St. Claire Deville in 1862, trial and error has usually been applied to obtain novel catalytic materials. Although structure direction by organic ‘templates’(or Structure Directing Agents, SDA) is an essential route to the preparation of many porous catalytic materials, it remains a challenge to choose a specific template for a desired topology. The understanding of organic/inorganic interactions in (alumino)silicate gels is of primary importance to understand the templating role of molecules in zeolite synthesis. NMR is one of the best tools to study interactions at the molecular level, both in the liquid and solid states.
Project
The 12 months project will be devoted to the development of NMR techniques capable of giving information on the nature and structure of assemblies formed at the early stages of the zeolite growth. REDOR techniques (^29 Si-{1H}, ^27 Al-{1H},…) as well as correlation sequences (CP/MAS, HECTOR, COSY,…) will have to be adapted to the particular case of zeolite gels and precursors.
Experimental research will be carried out at IRCELYON (Villeurbanne, France) on a Bruker DSX 400 spectrometer equipped with various variable temperature probes. NMR developments will be used, in addtion to more conventional NMR techniques, to describe the template/(alumino)silicate species and to estimate distances in synthesis gels. This work will be done in collaboration with a PhD student working more specifically on systems containing N,N,N,N',N',N'-hexamethyl-1,6-hexanediammonium (or diquat-6) molecules.
Profile
Candidates should have a PhD in Chemistry or Physics, with a
specialization in Solid State NMR. Experience in the development of
NMR tools are also required. The candidate should also have excellent
writing and communications skills in English.
Contact
Please, send your candidacy letter, CV and recommendation letters to:
Dr Alain TUEL
Institut de Recherches sur la Catalyse et l'Environnement de Lyon (IRCELYON)
UMR 5256 CNRS-Université de Lyon1
2 avenue Albert Einstein
69626 Villeurbanne Cedex France
E-mail : alain.tuel@ircelyon.univ-lyon1.fr
