OPERANDO X-RAY ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY TO UNDERSTAND DYNAMIC BEHAVIOR OF SOLID CATALYSTS
MATERIAL AND SURFACE SCIENCE
Lab: LCC
Duration: NanoX master Internship (8 months part-time in-lab immersion)
Latest starting date: 05/10/2026
Localisation: Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination (LCC) campus at 205 Route de Narbonne, and ENSIACET at 4 Allée Emile Monso at INP campus
Supervisors:
Bidyut BIKASH SARMA bidyut-bikash.sarma@lcc-toulouse.fr
This research master's degree project could be followed by a PhD
Work package:
The dynamic evolution of catalyst structures under process-relevant conditions is extremely important to understand as the conversion and selectivity of a particular reaction depend on the catalyst structure.1, 2 However, it is very challenging to track small changes in the catalyst with state-of-the-art laboratory-based techniques. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS)3, 4 is one of the important techniques that allows to effectively reveal the electronic state (influenced by e.g. oxidation state, symmetry) under various conditions (high temperature, high pressure, low metal concentrations).2
References:
1. B. B. Sarma and J.-D. Grunwaldt, Chimia, 2024, 78, 288-296.
2. B. B. Sarma, F. Maurer, D. E. Doronkin and J.-D. Grunwaldt, Chem. Rev., 2023, 123, 379-444.
3. K. Bendehiba, S. Sarmah, E. Pujol, D. Nkeuya, D. Neukum, V. Truttmann, D. E. Doronkin, N. Romero, P. Serp, J.-D. Grunwaldt and B. B. Sarma, Chem. Sci., 2026, 17, 13042-13054.
4. B. B. Sarma, D. Neukum, D. E. Doronkin, A. R. Lakshmi Nilayam, L. Baumgarten, B. Krause and J.-D. Grunwaldt, Chem. Sci., 2024, 15, 12369-12379.
Areas of expertise:
X-ray absorption spectroscopy, dynamic behavior, CO2 hydrogenation, hydroformylation reaction
Required skills for the internship:
Background in physics or chemistry, knowledge in catalysis and operando spectroscopy will be advantageous