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Science, Research & Communication
“Using light and colors to unravel the invisible and build a better future”
Passionate about my work, this website enables me to present my research as well as communicating on my work, what I do, why I do it, and explaining my research tools such as the synchrotron.
Today, fossil fuels are not only burned for energy but also used to produce essential materials like rubber, plastics, and medicines. To move away from fossil oil, we need a circular carbon economy—one where CO₂ is recycled into useful products instead of being released into the atmosphere.
In my research, I work on developing advanced materials that use sunlight and electricity to transform CO₂ into fuels and chemicals. By studying these materials at a fundamental level, I aim to create innovative solutions that help reduce our reliance on fossil resources and pave the way for a greener, more sustainable world.
Next to come
2nd International Workshop on Nanodiamonds - ENS Paris Saclay
https://ndworkshop2025.sciencesconf.org/
This October, I will attend the 2nd International Workshop on Nanodiamonds at the ENS Paris Saclay, where I had the great honor to be invited to present some Advanced characterizations of nanodiamonds by synchrotron-based techniques. I will make a review on the different techniques we can apply on diamond surfaces and nanodiamonds to probe their surface states and surface defects (NEXAFS, depth resolved XPS, STXM) and the interaction of the surface with a liquid (NAP-XPS, in situ NEXAFS).
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Last Publication
Diamond, a new electrode for solar energy
Zoé Dessoliers, Arsène Chemin, Geetha Valurouthu, Robert Lord, Thomas Bilyk, Yury Gogotsi, Vincent Mauchamp, Tristan Petit, Physical Review X Energy (2025)
In collaboration with Tristan Petit from Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, and colleagues from Würzburg, Freiburg and Stuttgart, I have published an article entitled « Modulating surface redox reactions and solvated electron emission on boron-doped diamond by (photo)electrochemistry » in Physical Review X Energy.
Solar photoelectrochemistry will play a key role in the energy transition towards a decarbonized society. To achieve this goal, durable, stable, and efficient electrodes must be developed. Boron-doped diamond emerges as a highly promising material: robust, metal-free, and capable of operating under extreme conditions such as water decontamination.
We demonstrate how light and electricity can work together to control chemical reactions at the diamond surface. Depending on its surface termination, diamond can either emit solvated electrons – powerful chemical reducers capable of attacking molecules like CO₂ – or directly trigger redox reactions. This dual capacity opens new perspectives for applications ranging from hydrogen production and solar energy storage to green chemistry for a more sustainable future.
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Diamonds are not just precious stones—they can also be grown in the lab and engineered into advanced materials for science and technology. In this image, taken with an electron microscope, you can see "diamond black" electrodes developed by my collaborator, Dr. Peter Knittel from the Fraunhofer Institute. These electrodes feature a surface covered with needle-like structures, designed to significantly increase the contact area with water, enhancing their efficiency in chemical reactions. This innovation highlights the incredible potential of diamond-based materials in cutting-edge research.
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