Nouvelles sources d'énergie : perspectives et défis scientifiques.

Séminaire interdisciplinaire de l'IMéRA

14:00-15:00 Anne Jones, résidente de l'IMéRA ; Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Bioenergy and Photosynthesis, Arizona State University

Photons to Fuel: Bio-inspired Electrocatalysis and Artificial Photosynthesis

Abstract: Faced with unrelenting anthropogenic climate change, there is a pressing need to develop sustainable means to power human civilization. Photovoltaics can directly provide renewable electricity, but there remains a need for fuel molecules such as hydrogen or reduced carbon compounds especially in the transportation sector. Photosynthesis is biology’s means to convert solar energy into storage compounds, and it has not only sustained most of life but produced fossil fuels. It serves as a case study for construction of solar fuel production systems. This talk will describe the successes and challenges of artificial photosynthesis, a bio-inspired approach to solar fuel production. Particular emphasis will be placed on describing bio-inspired electrocatalysts for fuel production.

15:00-16:00 Roland Pellenq, Director of Research (DR1) at CNRS (CINaM, AMU/CNRS) and MIT Senior Research Scientist

Understanding Shale-Rocks from the Bottom-Up Approach in Fundamental Physics.

Abstract: This talk focuses on the physics of flow through shale rocks, that is key to production as it poses a distinctive challenge new to the oil and gas industry. A large part of the pores in shale have typical widths of nanometer range, and are located within an organic porous material (kerogen) containing absorbed hydrocarbons. At these scales, the pore size is of the order of the mean free path of the hydrocarbon molecules, and Navier-Stokes equations with no-slip boundary condition cannot adequately reprensent the flow. I will focus on the role of adsorption in modifying the transport, and will suggest alternative to the use of water.