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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.
Recycling CO₂: At the Heart of Future Physical Chemistry
Recycling CO₂: At the Heart of Future Physical Chemistry
A truly sustainable energy transition will only be possible by closing the carbon cycle by recycling CO2 and using it as a raw material for the organic chemistry of tomorrow (pharmaceuticals, fuels, plastics, etc.). To achieve this, our research aims to understand and optimize the (photo)electrocatalysis of CO2 and the production of H2, utilizing the direct conversion of electrical and solar energy into chemical energy.
Materials Innovation: We develop new generations of electrodes inspired by photovoltaics (thin films, rare-earth-doped semiconductors) and innovative materials such as synthetic diamonds, MXene or high-entropy alloys nanoparticles.
Understanding Interfaces: We develop new theoretical approaches to decrypt the complexity of solid–liquid interfaces and overcome bottlenecks related to catalytic kinetics and reaction selectivity.
Multi-scale Characterization: Our work relies on laboratory techniques and advanced synchrotron methods for structural, electronic, and chemical characterization.
Are you curious about combining fundamental research with environmental challenges? Come discover our projects at the laboratory!
Next to come
2026 MRS Spring Meeting & Exhibit
This Spring, I will be attending the 2026 MRS Spring Meeting & Exhibit in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. I am deeply honored to have been invited to present our work at the symposium on Nanodiamonds.
My presentation, titled "Probing, Understanding, and Engineering Diamond Interfaces for Quantum and Energy Technologies," will provide a comprehensive review of the techniques used to investigate diamond surfaces and nanodiamonds. Specifically, I will discuss how we probe surface states and defects using NEXAFS, depth-resolved XPS, and STXM. Furthermore, I will explore the interactions between these surfaces and their environment, and the resulting implications for future technologies.
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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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