Multi-Scale Investigation Of A Scientific Cold Case: The Water-Ethanol Solubility Mystery (M/W)

14 Sep 2023

Job Information

Organisation/Company

CNRS

Department

Institut de physique de Rennes

Research Field

Chemistry » Physical chemistry

Physics » Chemical physics

Physics » Biophysics

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

France

Application Deadline

4 Oct 2023 - 23:59 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

35

Offer Starting Date

1 Nov 2023

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

The PhD project will be focused on experimental techniques able to characterize both multi-scale structures and dynamics of these heterogeneities at the atomic scale (Vibrationnal and Nuclear techniques), at the molecular supramolecular scale (X-ray Scattering in house and on Synchrotron Sources), and macroscopic scales (varied light scattering techniques). The PhD student will work in collaboration with groups in Prague (P. Stepanek), NYC (O. Gang), synchrotron SOLEIL (T. Bizien). In Rennes, the PhD Student will benefit from complementary experimental techniques (Raman, FTIR, NMR, X-ray Scattering, original optical set-up) as well as state of international leader in liquid mixture molecular dynamic (A. Ghoufi).

Nowadays, water-ethanol solutions are used in many industrial processes as well as in fundamental research. All these observation make the appearance of déjà vu. But careful discussions with perfume industrials or spirit experts point out robust and popular beliefs, such as the over-week maturation required after the perfume mixing, or the taste-opening of distilled whiskey by a water droplet. From a fundamental perspective, the water-ethanol system is the famous textbook example of non-ideal mixture (cf figure). Most of the macroscopic experimental observations are in favour of large-scale segregation. For example, Franks1,2 explains that the positive excess Gibbs Enthalpy (GE) of +0.3kBT “is always encountered in systems which separate” and give the example of the butanol/water mixture that exhibits two macroscopic coexisting phases with the same GE. A few papers pointed out the existence of heterogeneities,3 without exploring large space scale and slow dynamics. Half a century later, this scientific case is still unresolved. 1 Franks, F. & Ives, D. Structural Properties of Alcohol-Water Mixtures. Quarterly Reviews 20, 1 (1966). 2 Franks, F. & Desnoyers, J. Alcohol-Water Mixtures Revisited. Water Science Reviews 1, 171–232 (1985). 3 Dixit, S., et al, Molecular segregation observed in a concentrated alcohol-water solution. Nature 416, 829–832 (2002).

Requirements

Research Field

Chemistry

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Research Field

Physics

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Research Field

Physics

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Languages

FRENCH

Level

Basic

Research Field

Chemistry » Physical chemistry

Years of Research Experience

None

Research Field

Physics » Chemical physics

Years of Research Experience

None

Research Field

Physics » Biophysics

Years of Research Experience

None

Additional Information

Website for additional job details

https: // emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/Doctorant/UMR6251-FRAART-002/Default.aspx

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Institut de physique de Rennes

Country

France

City

RENNES

Where to apply

Website

https: // emploi.cnrs.fr/Candidat/Offre/UMR6251-FRAART-002/Candidater.aspx

Contact

City

RENNES

Website

https:// www. ipr.univ-rennes1.fr

STATUS: EXPIRED