PhD Thesis Development of sensors based on Conductive Polymers and Carbon Quantum Dots for Organophosphate detection

Department: CERI EE

Line Manager: Director of Centre d’Enseignement, de Recherche et d’Innovation Energie Environnement (CERI EE)

Functional Manager: Nadine LOCOGE, Professor, Thesis supervisor – Alberto GREGORI, Senior Researcher, Thesis co-supervisor – Caroline DUC, Assistant Professor, Thesis co-supervisor

Category: PhD candidate

Contract type: PhD contract

Working place: Douai – Bourseul Campus, CERI EE – Gay-Lussac building

Context:

As a school under the supervision of the Ministry of the Economy and Finance, and a member of the Institut Mines-Télécom, IMT Nord Europe's mission includes conducting research leading to high-value-added innovations; supporting regional development, particularly by facilitating innovation and business creation. Ideally located at the crossroads of Europe, 1 hour from Paris, 30 minutes from Brussels, and 1 hour 30 minutes from London, IMT Nord Europe aims to become a major player in the major industrial, digital, and environmental transformations of the 21st century by combining engineering sciences and digital technologies in both its teaching and research. The CERI EE offers an international working environment within a research group based in Douai, a medium-sized city near Lille, a cosmopolitan metropolis with a thriving cultural scene and a vibrant atmosphere.

For more details, please visit the school's website: www.imt-nord-europe.fr

The PhD position is available within the CERI EE (https://recherche.imt-nord-europe.fr/energie-environnement-ceri/), in the "Observations, Sources and Atmospheric Processes" (OSPA) research area. Research conducted within OSPA focuses on the physicochemical properties of trace elements in ambient air and their applications. The objective is to better understand the formation and transformation processes of air pollutants and to propose solutions tailored to the needs of society and economic operators. The team's core research themes aim for a better understanding of the physicochemical processes of formation and reaction of gaseous and particulate pollutants and an assessment of their impact on humans and the environment.

This PhD position fall into the framework of a starting academic collaboration between the CERI EE , principal investigator Dr Alberto GREGORI, and the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche SCITEC (https://www.scitec.cnr.it/en/) with Dr Mariacecilia PASINI and Dr Benedetta M. SQUEO. In the framework of this collaboration, a research period in the POP Lab in Milan (Italy) will be possible and encouraged.

PhD Context and Scientific Challenge:

Institute Mines Telecom Nord Europe has a large experience on the development and characterization of gas sensors (ammonia, hydrogen sulphide, formaldehyde, etc…) for outdoor/indoor/industrial air quality monitoring and biomedical applications.

Organophosphorus compounds constitute a family of chemicals widely used in agricultural, industrial, and military applications. Highly toxic with a potential impact on human health and the environment, they make the development of rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective detection technologies essential.

Chemiresistive sensors are a promising alternative due to their simple architecture, low power consumption, and potential integration into portable devices. IMT NE group is specialized in conducting polymers (CPs)-based chemiresistors. CPs exhibit some interesting properties, including tuneable conductivity, sensitivity to chemical interactions, and compatibility with low-temperature fabrication processes. However, CPs alone are not adapted for OPs sensing and their combination with organic and inorganic materials is necessary.

Recent researches have shown that carbon dots (CDs), a 0-dimensional carbon nanomaterial, improved gas sensing performances of (semi-)conductive materials for fluorescent sensors and chemiresistors. CDs have several advantages over inorganic semiconducting materials, such as low toxicity, low cost, ease of manufacture, and abundant active sites. More importantly, their functionalization (-COOH, -N, -S) could provide additional surface-active sites to capture OPs through the hydrogen bonds interactions and surface functional groups.

Combining CPs with CDs opens new opportunities to improve sensor sensitivity, selectivity, and stability through the unique electronic and surface properties of these nanomaterials.

Furthermore, the environmental challenges associated with the manufacturing of electronic devices now require the development of greener ink formulations and processing to reduce the use of hazardous solvents and minimise the environmental footprint of the fabricated sensors.

This PhD project is positioned within this framework and aims to develop a new generation of high-performance chemiresistive sensors based on hybrid CPs:CDs materials fabricated using environmentally friendly processing approaches.

Scientific Objectives:

The main objectives of this PhD project are:

1. To develop innovative CPs:CDs hybrid materials for the chemiresistive detection of gases.

2. To optimise sensor fabrication processes (from formulation to (post-)deposition) to obtain devices featuring high sensitivity, low detection limits, rapid and reproducible responses.

3. To understand the interaction mechanisms between OPs and sensitive materials to improve sensing performance.

4. To develop proof of concept and prototypes, and test OPs sensors in representative environments.

Methodology:

The PhD candidate will work on the design, formulation, and processing of sensitive materials for chemiresistive gas sensors, focusing on OPs.

The experimental work will include:

• the development of eco-friendly ink formulations compatible with available deposition techniques (e.g. dip-coating, spin-coating, Direct ink writing,… );

• rheological and physicochemical investigations of the formulated inks;

• morphological, structural, and electrical characterisation of the developed materials;

• the fabrication of sensors using various processing techniques and their characterization under specific conditions (humidity, gas concentration, temperature, etc.);

The PhD candidate will work within a multidisciplinary environment at the interface of materials science, chemistry, nanotechnology, and printed electronics.

Teaching opportunities from L2 to M2 levels will be also possible in the frame of the IMT Nord Europe courses.

Expected results:

The research will:

• optimising sensitivity and detection limits;

• improving selectivity against interfering species;

• ensuring fabrication reproducibility;

• reducing the overall environmental impact of the whole fabrication process.

The results will be published in leading international journals in the fields of materials science, sensors development, and environmental science.

Candidate Profile:

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a Master degree in Material Sciences, Polymer Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry or related field (or equivalent e. g. French Engineer Diploma) with specific knowledge on the formulation and characterization of polymeric materials. Knowledge on conductive polymers, sensors or polymer blends will be appreciated. Candidate must be fluent in English with writing/communication skills.

The ideal candidate will possess:

·         A Master's degree (or equivalent) in Materials Science, Polymer Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, or a related discipline.

·         Knowledge of formulation and thin film deposition techniques.

·         An interest in experimental work and the characterization of complex systems.

·         The ability to thrive in a multidisciplinary and international environment.

·         Rigorous, autonomous, and organized.

Interpersonal skills

• Scientific curiosity

• Strong organizational and independent work skills

• Ability to work effectively in a team and in a multidisciplinary environment

• Scientific rigor and analytical skills

Practical skills

· Experience in polymer chemistry, physical chemistry, surface chemistry and organic electronics

· An interest in experimental work and the characterization of complex systems

· Good communication, oral and written skills (ideally in both English and French)

Knowledge

· Knowledge of formulation and thin film deposition techniques

· Knowledge of gas sensor development and printed electronics

· Skills in processing and analyzing data

Languages:

·         A good level of French and English (written and spoken).

Conditions:

The PhD position is available from Fall 2026 for a period of 36 months.

Information and application procedures:

For any questions regarding the PhD position, please contact Alberto GREGORI, Senior Researcher at CERI EE, alberto.gregori@imt-nord-europe.fr or Caroline DUC, Assistant professor at CERI EE, caroline.duc@imt-nord-europe.fr.

Application deadline: 07/08/2026