Advanced functional polymer colloids with high photo-oxidative properties
APOCOLIPS aims to develop advanced functional polymer colloids with high photo-oxidative properties. Two promising applications have been envisaged for these materials: 1) to develop efficient self-disinfecting and antimicrobial resistant polymer films and 2) to design stable colloidal dispersions for photo-oxygenation of organic molecules for fine chemicals production. One of the most innovative aspects of the proposed research is that it targets the preparation of advanced polymer coatings integrating organic photosensitizer (PS) via covalent bonding by implementing a straightforward, industrially viable and safe process. Another innovation of APOCOLIPS is to combine the key advantages of flow photochemistry with the ones of supported PS to develop stable submicronic photo-active polymer colloids which can be easily transported by the continuous phase in the microfluidic devices, while being recycling. The final goal of the two-year fellowship is to advance and diversify the competences of Dr. Aboudzadeh both as a researcher and as a future leader in the field of polymer materials for a sustainable world. APOCOLIPS is highly multidisciplinary combining polymer chemistry, polymer physics, photochemistry, microbiology, chemical engineering and green chemistry.
The fellowship will bring together the knowledge of Dr. Aboudzadeh, who recently obtained his PhD degree in polymer materials from Spain, with those of Dr. Save (project supervisor) in polymer chemistry and the skills of Dr. Lacombe in photochemistry. Moreover, the project benefits from a national collaboration with Dr. Loubière from LGC (Toulouse) with strong experiences in continuous flow photochemistry. The host centre is CNRS that boasts outstanding facilities and excellent contacts with industry. Finally APOCOLIPS brings about the fellow a three-month international and interdiciplinary secondment (Ulster University, UK) under supervision of Prof. Fernandez-Ibañez, an expert in disinfection technologies.