Post doc :Nanocellulose-based aerogels as biodegradable electrodes for sustainable electrophysiology

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INRAE presentation

The French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE) is a major player in research and innovation. It is a community of 12,000 people with 272 research, experimental research, and support units located in 18 regional centres throughout France. Internationally, INRAE is among the top research organisations in the agricultural and food sciences, plant and animal sciences, as well as in ecology and environmental science. It is the world’s leading research organisation specialising in agriculture, food and the environment. INRAE’s goal is to be a key player in the transitions necessary to address major global challenges. Faced with a growing world population, climate change, resource scarcity, and declining biodiversity, the Institute has a major role to play in building solutions and supporting the necessary acceleration of agricultural, food and environmental transitions.

Work environment, missions and activities

WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND ACTIVITIES

You will be welcomed in the unit Biopolymers, Interactions and Assemblies (BIA) from INRAE. BIA is located at Géraudière campus (3 impasse Yvette Cauchois, 44316 Nantes). The BIA unit works with those involved in bioresource production to study the biological mechanisms that influence the quality of bioresources. At the heart of its expertise, BIA analyses the evolution of compositions and structures via fractionation, the impact of processes or formulation, and assesses product functionalities, both in technological terms and in terms of their environmental and human health impacts (https://eng-ur-bia.angers-nantes.hub.inrae.fr/).

You will be in charge of:

This postdoctoral position is part of the Bio-Electro project, funded by the M-ERA.NET, which involves 8 European partners. The Bio-Electro project aims at preparing bio-based and biodegradable electrodes intended for sustainable electrophysiology, using electrocardiography (ECG) as a user case. The new biodegradable electrodes will be composed of nanocellulose (NC) hydrogels or aerogels in combination with biodegradable electroconductive additives and nanoinks allowing efficient ion-to-electron transduction. The electrodes will be produced following new sustainable manufacturing technologies adapted to the generated materials.

The postdoctoral position will focus on the preparation and characterization of cellulose-based aerogels, showing different pore size and morphology.

Aerogels are materials derived from hydrogels in which the liquid phase is replaced by a gas in mild conditions. They are ultra-light, highly porous (> 90%) and present a high specific surface area. Nanocellulose aerogels and their composites have already demonstrated conductivity for electrode fabrication, however, they have not been explored for ECG applications. The postdoctoral position will therefore focus on controlling directional porosity and 3D stability of nanocellulose-based aerogels that facilitate conductivity for electroconductive materials.

This postdoctoral position aims at investigating the arrangement of nanocelluloses as porous architectures. Nanocellulose-based porous materials will be prepared by the freeze-drying process. Two strategies will be used to control pore size and morphology: non-directional (ND) and unidirectional (UD) freezing.^{1, 2} In the ND procedure, ice crystals grow from the outside to inside the gel in an isotropic manner leading to a honeycomb structure. In the UD procedure, ice crystals are growing from the bottom to the top inside the gel (anisotropic manner), so that CNF densification occurs between ice crystal monoliths leading to lamellar structuration of CNFs wall. For this purpose, we propose the following objectives:

1. To prepare nanocellulose-based aerogels with controlled porosity by non-directional (ND) and unidirectional (UD) freezing.
2. To characterized the properties of aerogels: mechanical, water responsiveness, conductivity. 

Training and skills

Recommended training: PhD in Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Biochemistry or related

Knowledge required: Common characterization techniques in Physics and Nanotechnology (FTIR, UV-vis spectroscopy, NMR, EA) as well as specific techniques for the study of biopolymers (microscopy, AFM, TEM, Conductometry, DLS, X-Ray, birefringence, etc.)

Appreciated experience: Cellulose (nano)fibers, biopolymers, physical chemistry of biopolymers, nanotechnology, porous materials

Skills sought: Initiative, creativity and team working ability

INRAE's life quality

By joining our teams, you benefit from (depending on the type of contract and its duration):

- up to 30 days of annual leave + 15 days "Reduction of Working Time" (for a full time);
- parenting support: CESU childcare, leisure services;
- skills development systems: training, career advise;
- social support: advice and listening, social assistance and loans;
- holiday and leisure services: holiday vouchers, accommodation at preferential rates;
- sports and cultural activities;
- collective catering.

How to apply

I send my CV and my motivation letter