The Institut de Chimie du Collège de France comprises two professorships and two associated laboratories located on the Marcelin-Berthelot site. One is the Chemistry of Biological Processes Chair, held by Prof. Marc Fontecave, who heads the Laboratory of Chemistry of Biological Processes, a joint research unit (UMR 8229 Collège de France-CNRS-Sorbonne Université). Jean-Marie Tarascon, holder of the Chemistry of Materials and Energy Chair, heads the Chemistry of Materials and Energy Laboratory (UMR 8260 Collège de France-CNRS-Sorbonne Université).
Through this institute, the Collège de France aims to develop a research center of excellence in chemistry, strategically positioned in the fields of new energy technologies, from fundamental research through to applications. More specifically, the aim is to develop energy storage systems, both chemical storage (decomposition of water into oxygen and hydrogen and valorization of carbon dioxide) and electrochemical storage (electric batteries). This involves both the discovery of new materials and new catalysts (photo- and electro-catalysts) that are efficient and stable, and the development of new technological devices (batteries, electrolyzers and photoelectrolyzers).
At the interface of chemistry and biology, Mr. Fontecave's laboratory is interested in a whole range of complex enzymatic systems involved in metabolic or biosynthetic reactions - biosynthesis of essential organic and inorganic cofactors, hydrogen biosynthesis, selective modification of nucleic acids - in order to understand their mechanisms and structure. Structural characterization of these biomolecular assemblies is at the heart of the laboratory's activities, thanks in particular to a unique protein crystallography platform located at the Collège de France. These systems are also studied from the point of view of their potential applications: therapeutic targets or biocatalysts. At the same time, he is developing original approaches to bioinspired chemistry, which involve preparing homogeneous or heterogeneous catalysts that mimic the active sites of the enzymes and metalloenzymes of interest. Based on this concept, it is possible, for example, to develop " artificial photosynthesis " systems for the production of " solar fuels ". By using solar energy to convert water into hydrogen or carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and alcohols, these systems enable intermittent renewable energies to be stored in the form of chemical energy.
Solid state chemistry plays a major role in developments in the chemical industry. Today, new solid materials need to be more sophisticated, miniaturized, robust, recyclable, environmentally friendly, energy-efficient and inexpensive. J.-M. Tarascon represents this field, particularly through his innovative research into energy storage. Based on recently discovered reaction mechanisms, his laboratory is developing new, inexpensive and efficient materials for original electrodes to be used in the batteries of the future for electric vehicles. The " all-solid "versionof batteries is also being studied to improve their safety. For the sake of eco-compatibility, the group is also looking at alternative technologies such as sodium-ion batteries or aqueous Li(Na)-ion systems forgreenerbatteries . At the same time, it is developing the concept of intelligent batteries. This concept, inspired by medicine, is based on the injection of optical sensors and self-repairing agents inside batteries to give them a second life and reduce their environmental footprint. Finally, his laboratory is betting on establishing a synergy between batteries and electrolyzers. This involves the development of electrocatalysts for water electrolysis, based on new intercalation reaction principles, as well as the study of transfer kinetics at electrochemical interfaces.
The Institut de Chimie also benefits from the skills of honorary professors Jacques Livage, former holder of the Chemistry of Condensed Matter chair ; Clément Sanchez, former holder of the Chemistry of Hybrid Materials chair ; and Jean-Marie Lehn, former holder of the Chemistry of Molecular Interactions chair.
