Research

Our research aims at using platform chemicals obtained from readily available renewables such as cellulose and lignin. Among others, our current investigations focus on the use of HMF and vanillin to make new monomers.

Keywords: Monomer synthesis, renewable resource valorisation

Field: Green chemistry, organic chemistry, catalysis

One of our research aims is to expand the chemist toolbox to make bio-based polymers. This involves developing new methodology and versatile catalytic systems able to use bio-based monomers readily available from renewable resources. We particularly focus on combining “actor” ligands with main group metals (which are cheap, abundant and has low toxicity) to decipher new reactivity. 

Our recent work dealing with aluminium catam complexes for ring-opening polymerisation of lactide at room temperature has been published in Dalton Transaction.

Keyword: Ligand and catalysts design, structure-activity relationship, reactivity and companionable study (DFT), Ring-opening (co)polymerisation, cyclic « oxygenated » monomers (cyclic ester, carbonates…).

 Field: Organometallics and inorganic chemistry, Polymerisation catalysis, « actor » ligands

To overcome some limitations of bio-based polymers, we investigate how polymer composition and modification affect materials properties. This includes improving thermal and mechanical properties of degradable polymers to broaden their range of applications.

Keyword: controlled polymers composition and architecture, polymer post-modifications

Field: polymer chemistry, materials