Fellows seminar - Smart chemistry for a smarter future

At this joint chemistry seminar, two USIAS projects will be presented. The three fellows involved, from the University of Strasbourg and working in the areas of materials, supramolecular science and organometallic chemistry, will speak about their findings, and reflect on the implications and applications of their research.

Nickel nanoparticles stabilised by donor-acceptor ligands for homogeneous and heterogenous catalytic applications

Christophe Michon (Laboratory of Molecular Innovation and Applications - LIMA) and Cuong Pham-Huu (Institute of Chemistry and Processes for Energy, Environment and Health - ICPEES) - 2021 Fellows

A catalyst is a substance, based on a metal and/or on organic functions, that enables a chemical reaction to take place without being consumed or altered in the process. Metal nanoparticles are particularly important in the catalysis of organic reactions due to their large area surfaces and the unique metal-metal interactions within their core. The major challenge in the application of metal nanoparticles in catalysis is their stability under reaction, as low stabilisation leads to agglomeration which ultimately results in the loss of the catalytic activity, regardless of the system applied, e.g., solid-liquid or solid-gas. In addition, their recovery and reuse are now essential for the development of sustainable catalytic processes.

Currently, we are developing catalysts based on nickel nanoparticles coordinated to donor-acceptor ligands. With or without the use of an additional support, such a strategy leads to stabilized nanoparticles, of defined sizes and with a unique reactivity, for the catalysis of selective organic reactions like hydrogenation and amination in organic or aqueous media. If the supported shape of these catalysts allows their recovery and reuse, the future application of a non-contact electromagnetic inductive heating will make it possible to heat these nickel nanocatalysts exclusively via their support, which will act as a heat-transfer agent to overcome energy losses and limitations during thermal transfers. The presence of an electromagnetic field around the reaction medium could also induce different catalysis selectivities, either through the stabilization of radical species or particular interactions.

• More information on the two Fellows and their USIAS project - Stabilization of nickel nanoparticles with olefinic N-heterocyclic carbene ligands for catalytic applications in hydrogenation and reductive amination using induction heating nanoparticules

The honeymoon between 2D materials and supramolecular science: taming functional complexity

During the last 20 years, 2D materials have revolutionized the fields of materials and nanoscience. Their exceptional physical and chemical properties render them particularly interesting as active components for the emergence of disruptive technologies in opto-electronics, sensing and energy storage. However, their properties are hardly tuneable. The controlled interfacing of 2D materials with molecules and assemblies thereof represents a promising strategy for imparting new properties to 2D materials. This is the exciting playground in which the Nanochemistry Lab at ISIS – the Institute of Supramolecular Science and Engineering - has been practicing its creativity during the last decade.

In my talk, I will present our recent findings on the chemical functionalization of 2D materials to engineer hybrid systems via the controlled interfacing of their two surfaces either in a symmetric or asymmetric fashion with molecular switches or dopant, molecular receptors of a chosen analyte, or molecular springs. We will exploit such hybrid systems to realize proof-of-concept applications such as opto-electronic devices that can respond to different stimuli thereby emulating neuromorphic logics, high-performing chemical sensors capable to selectively detect small (bio)molecules or ions, or physical sensors for medical diagnosis and more specifically to monitor cardiovascular diseases. Finally, we will show how the combination of 2D materials with cementitious composites is a viable approach to realize smart constructions with enhanced mechanical properties and durability.

Our modular strategies relying on the combination of 2D materials with molecules offer a simple route to generate multifunctional coatings, foams and nanocomposites with pre-programmed properties to address key global challenges, to ultimately improve the quality of life on our planet.

• Read more about Paolo Samorì and his project - 2D materialS-based cementitiOus Composites for multifunctional cIvil engineering applicatiOns applications

^{Figure 1 : Optically switchable multilevel high-mobility transistors based on few-layer ambipolar WSe₂ nanosheets.
Figure 2 : Printed networks of 2D materials obtained covalently bridging semiconducting MoS₂ nanosheets with ad hoc molecules.
References
[1]   For reviews introducing molecules + 2D materials: (a) Chem. Soc. Rev. 2018 47, 6845-6888. (b) Small 2021, 17, 2100514.
[2]   For reviews on molecules + 2D materials for opto-electronics: (a) Adv. Mater. 2018, 30, 1706103. (b) Chem. Rev., 2022, 122, 50-131.
[3]   For reviews on molecules + 2D materials for chemical sensing: (a) Chem. Soc. Rev. 2018, 47, 4860-4908. (b) Adv. Funct Mater., 2022, 32, 2207065.
[4]   Molecules + 2D materials for physical sensing and medical diagnosis: Adv. Mater. 2019, 31, 1804600.
[5]   Chemically tailored 2D materials for better constructions: (a) Adv. Sci. 2019, 6, 1801195. (b) ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2021, 13, 23000. (c) Adv. Funct. Mater. 2021, 31, 2101887. (d) Chem. Eur. J. 2023, 29, e202301816}