The Catalysis and Spectrochemistry Laboratory (LCS) has built its reputation on operando spectroscopy of the catalyst, that is to say on the observation of the material in the chemical reactor, in real time, during the reaction. Since 2009, the LCS has also been recognized worldwide for its research into the design of microporous materials, such as zeolites, with specific properties. With a very strong pole in infrared spectroscopy, but also in NMR and Raman spectroscopy, the LCS occupies a unique place in the field of automotive depollution, in the production of energy and in bioresources.
Who are we?
RESEARCH: Our Rationale
From the preparation of advanced materials
... to the study of their functioning at the molecular level.
The LCS is a joint research unit (UMR 6506) of the CNRS, the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Ingénieurs de Caen (ENSICAEN) and the University of Caen Normandie
- We prepare materials and study their properties in order to optimize their performance in the field of environment and sustainable development, energy or for new technologies (sensors, vectorization of drugs …)
- We are an efficient and productive laboratory ranked very good by the national evaluation organisation (HCERES, CNRS). Our know-how in the field of catalytic materials and spectroscopic characterization tools are recognized internationally.
- We have technical platforms and experienced project teams in partnerships with companies.
- We have a strong tradition of cooperation with industry (local, national, international) through fundamental research and service delivery (LCSValoris)
- Within the framework of the Carnot ESP Institute and thanks to our involvement in several national or international networks, we offer means of multidisciplinary collaborations to find solutions to complex problems.
Our teams
Today, the LCS is ~ 60 people, including 30 permanent researchers, engineers and permanent technical staff structured around two complementary areas of expertise:
- The ZEOLITHES axis whose core business is the rational design of porous zeolite materials for various applications in catalysis, adsorption, sensor …
- The SPECTROCAT axis notably involved in the development of spectroscopies in situ and operando allowing molecular understanding of heterogeneous catalysis, adsorption and separation phenomena. This domain corresponds to the historical activity of laboratory.
Added to this is the service unit : LCSValoris.
Collaborations of quality ...
The LCS is via the ENSICAEN member of the competitiveness cluster MOV’EO and the LABEX EMC3. Our teams participate in collaborative projects within the FUI / PREDIT framework, ADEME, ANR, Labex or european.
Our researchers publish in leading international journals: Nature, Science, Journal of the American Chemical Society, Angewandte Chemie, … and regularly file patents. We work with teams in more than 20 countries, Asia, America and Europe.
Partnership with major companies, ETI and SMEs ...
Over the years, we have collaborated or continue to collaborate with a wide range of companies covering several fields of activity:
PSA, Renault, Toyota, Valeo, Saint Gobain, Solvay, TOTAL, UOP, Grace, Evonik, PPG, Michelin, Eurecat, IFPEN, Axens, BASF, Johnson-Matthey, Thermo-electron, Bruker, Ets Raynaud, Imprimerie Tonnellier, Pantechnik, …
4 technical platforms based on 2250 m2 of premises ...
- VISIO – Vibrational and electronic spectroscopy platform: 23 FTIR, Raman, UV-Vis spectroscopies – in situ and operando spectroscopies – Thermogravimetry / FTIR, FTIR / microwave, FTIR / plasma couplings …
- NMR – Nuclear magnetic resonance platform: 4 solid and liquid spectrometers, 129Xe hyperpolarization by optical pumping, operando and high temperature measurements <400 ° C
- CATALYSIS – Various low and high pressure catalytic test platforms
- SYNTHESIS – Material synthesis platform: 200 autoclaves, characterization and control by Electron microscopy, sorptiometry, DRX, DLS …
Catalysis for energy, chemistry and environmental protection
- Valorisation of fossil resources (refining, petrochemicals) and bioresources (second-generation biofuels)
- Production of clean fuels or large intermediates for chemicals.
- New applications and processes, advanced techniques of energy conversion (μ-wave, plasma, photochemistry …)
- Depollution (NOx, SOx, VOC, soot …) from fixed or mobile sources, Environmental purification
- Separation of gases (CO2, hydrocarbons …)
- New energy vectors (H2)
- Valorisation of CO2
Spectroscopic tools and methodologies
- Operando studies as close as possible to actual application conditions
- Spatial resolution of a shaped solid, Resolution in time ms or μs
- Advanced characterization methods, tool design and development: 2D-IR PJAS, CF-RMN, operando (IR, RAMAN, and UV-Vis), AGIR, extreme conditions …
- Couplings: IR-Raman, IR-Gravimetry, IR-DSC
- Analysis and interpretation (2D-COS, 2D-FFT, maximum entropy, spectral inversion, PCA, chemometry in general …)
Porous materials: from preparation to applications
- Design of material, preparation, characterization and use of zeolites or related
- Nano and microscopic size zeolites; Mono, multilayered porous films; Self-supporting three-dimensional porous solids; Porous and hierarchical porous
- Nucleation and Crystal Growth Mechanism
- Nano-zeolites and materials with optimized porosity for refining
- Heterogeneous catalysis, separation, sensors, optics, membranes, detection of short-lived surface species, treatment of viscous liquids and colloids.
Some achievements and research products in the last 4 years
- The “Zeolite Crystal Engineering” at the LCS leads to a more aggressive intellectual property policy and its valorisation. The patents now cover the synthesis of zeolites (nanozeoliths), their modification (new process of hierarchization) and their growth on preformed supports (treatment of extra heavy oils).
- The LCS works for the design and applications of MOFS as highly selective heterogeneous catalysts, especially for the removal of toxic or hazardous molecules. The LCS promotes the design and applications of MOFs as highly selective heterogeneous catalysts, notably for harmful molecule abatement.
- In partnership with PSA, the LCS has designed and patented an original automotive exhaust control system (based on zeolites), now commercially available on the latest diesel models.
- First demonstration of the morphology of sulphide nanotubes on industrial hydrotreatment catalysts and morphological changes of the active phase by chelation of the additives and sulfuration at high pressure.
HCERES Evaluation
The Catalysis and Spectrochemistry Laboratory is a particularly dynamic research unit, well established in the local, national and international landscape. Its two scientific axes “Zeolites” and “Operando” both have a proven level of global excellence. Scientific production was up sharply both quantitatively (+ 43%) and qualitatively. The analysis of production information shows that all researchers and teacher-researchers are involved in the publication activity, with some of them having excellent levels. The radiation of the LCS is evidenced by a significant number of invitations to renowned conferences in the fields of activity of the unit. The partnership activity is remarkable and well balanced between upstream and downstream research. This is a strong point of the LCS. Academic collaborations are numerous and very often formalized (labex, ANR, European projects, LEA …).
Avis global (Campagne d’évaluation 2015-2016)
The work carried out in the “Zéolithes” axis is conceptually very innovative. The controlled reduction of the size of zeolite crystals as well as the synthesis without conventional “template” with a control of the alkaline structuring agents constitute globally recognized fields of expertise and fall within a strategy in materials chemistry that must be emphasized . The development of new methodologies for hierarchizing the porosity of zeolites without modifying the physicochemical properties is also an original approach which can open up many fields of application.
Avis global (Campagne d’évaluation 2015-2016)
The “Operando” axis, the historical activity of the laboratory, combines original methodological developments in vibration spectroscopy and solid-state NMR in in situ mode and operando with various research themes essentially heterogeneous catalysis. These meet major scientific and societal challenges in the fields of the environment, production and storage of energy … The latest developments of the LCS in this area in terms of expertise and tools consolidate Its position among world leaders in the field. Let us mention for example the already engaged combination of kinetic and spectroscopic tools that could lead to further innovations in terms of optimization of spectroscopic cells.
Avis global (Campagne d’évaluation 2015-2016)