Micromegas : nano-fluidics

The team’s research themes are at the interface between soft matter, fluid dynamics and nanosciences. It combines experiments, theory and numerical modelling to explore transport mechanisms at the interfaces, from macroscopic to molecular scales. Her recent activities focus in particular on Nanofluidics i.e. the nano-fluidic transport in nanopores, nanotubes, 2D materials, and aim to highlight the sometimes exotic properties of transport at these ultimate scales. She also explores mechanical properties at nanoscale using atomic force microscopes specifically developed in the laboratory. The unexpected phenomena that emerge at these scales make it possible to explore new avenues in the fields of energy and desalination. A start-up company, Sweetch Energy, has emerged from the team’s work in these subjects.

Lately the team has predicted a new quantum contribution to the solid-liquid friction force, that results from the coupling of water charge fluctuations to the electronic excitations within the solid. Eventually this new theory has rationalized the experimental observation of radius-dependent water slippage in carbon nanotube. More importantly this unravels a paradigm change for nanoscale hydrodynamics that the team is now exploring within an european projet “ERC Synergy n-aqua” shared with
Mainz and Cambridge teams.

Job offer

Funded PhD offer: “Reactive solid-liquid interfaces in operando“

2D metal carbides called MXene are emerging materials for energy-related applications as they can acquire huge charge in aqueous electrolytes and for sustainable electro-catalytic applications as they can integrate SAC (Single Atom Catalyst) and perform as well as expensive referenced electrodes. Consequently, a subtle interaction between the electrons of the metallic MXene and the ions and/or small molecules in the aqueous solvent has yet to be discovered through realistic simulations of the solid/liquid interface at the electronic (quantum) scale. This theoretical project will be carried out in close collaboration with the experimental part of our Micromegas team.
The PhD student will participate in the FLUXIONIC Marie Sklodowska-Curie PhD network, an interdisciplinary European network bringing together academic and industrial partners in 8 countries on the control of water and ion transport (and more generally of soft matter) on the nanometric scale (https://www.fluxionic.org/). Please note: there are strict mobility conditions to be met before you can apply (you must have been resident in France for less than 12 months at the start date of your thesis contract (planned for 01/10/2024 but flexible).

More information

Supervisor & contact: Marie-Laure Bocquet

News

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ERC Synergy

Starting of the european « ERC synergy n-aqua » (2023-2029) with Mainz and Cambridge teams.

Recruitment

Romain REOCREUX joins Micromégas as post-doc starting January 2024.

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Visitor

Ali ESFANDIAR joins Micromégas as guest researcher for the year 2024.

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Last publications

B. Coquinot, L. Bocquet, N. Kavokine, PRX (2023)

B. Coquinot, L. Bocquet, N. Kavokine, Quantum feedback at the solid-liquid interface: flow-induced electronic current and negative friction, Phys. Review X (2023)

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Lizée, Marcotte et al., PRX (2023)

Strong electronic winds blowing under liquid flows on carbon surfaces.

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Robert, Berthoumieux, Bocquet, PRL (2023)

Coupled Interactions at the Ionic Graphene-Water Interface.

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Robin, et al., J. Chem. Phys. (2023)

Ion filling of a one-dimensional nanofluidic channel in the interaction confinement regime.

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Monet, Bocquet, Bocquet J. Chem. Phys. (2023)

Unified non-equilibrium simulation methodology for flow through nanoporous carbon membrane.

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Pascual, Chapuis et al., Energy & Environmental Science (2023)

Waste heat recovery using thermally responsive ionic liquids through TiO₂ nanopore and macroscopic membranes

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Poles

Theory

Our team uses analytical and numerical methods to model and study nanofluidic phenomena. On the analytical side, our tools cover a wide range of physics, from non-equilibrium statistical physics to perturbative quantum field theory, via classical fluid mechanics. On the numerical side, we work at all scales, from DFT (electron density functional theory), which describes matter at the level of atomic electron orbitals, through classical molecular dynamics (MD) to the resolution of macroscopic PDEs.

Experimental

Our team uses state-of-the-art experimental methods to study nanofluidics. We are able to fabricate nanoscale channels by van der waals assembly in a clean room, using materials such as graphene and graphite. We then make nanofluidic transport measurements using mainly water, salt, glycerol and ionic liquids. For these measurements, we use a variety of in-house tools, including atomic force microscopes (AFM), a confocal microscope and various electrical measuring devices.

Innovation

Our team is also interested in the practical applications of its nanofluidic discoveries. Working in particular on the development of atomic force microscopes (AFM) and the fabrication of membranes from 2D materials, we are transforming the understanding of nanometric scales into innovative, patented macroscopic devices to solve industrial and ecological problems.