Spotlight on PhD graduate Antoine Adjaoud

Following an academic and industrial journey that took him from France to Luxembourg and Thailand, Antoine Adjaoud joined the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology to defend his doctoral thesis. Now that he has completed his PhD, Antoine is continuing his research as a postdoctoral researcher in the Materials Research and Technology department.

What is your research topic ?

My research topic is driven by the imminent and future threats of climate change on the planet and human health. The biggest challenge of our generation relies on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Mainly derived from petrochemicals, commodity plastics account for a large fraction of carbon dioxide emissions across their lifecycle, from their production to their consumption. The ubiquity of lignocellulosic biomass flourishing on the surface of Earth inspired scientists to identify eco-friendly alternatives to depleted petroleum resources. If cellulose received considerable interest from the paper and food packaging industries, the heterogeneity of lignin biopolymer constitutes the main lock for industrial applications. Mainly burned as a low-value-added chemical, the valorization of lignin as an independent polymeric phase is a very hot topic in the field of Polymer Science. However, even if the consideration of renewable design affords more sustainable sourcing of plastic, the issue pertaining to the end of life is generally overlooked or not adequately addressed.

The incorporation of reversible covalent bonds in polymer networks to form covalent adaptable networks (CANs) has opened up possibilities for the recycling of a non-processable class of plastics: thermosets. Since their discovery in 2011, vitrimers gained considerable interest as they combine the antithetical recyclability of thermoplastic and the thermo-mechanical stability of thermoset.

My thesis work, funded by the Luxembourg National Research Fund under a CORE project, is dedicated to the development of renewable and recyclable polymers with a closed-loop lifecycle. Polybenzoxazine, an emerging class of phenolic resin, was selected as a thermosetting matrix to apply these fundamental approaches. The experimental work focuses on two primary research axes: making benzoxazine greener through the exploration of lignin-based benzoxazines and making benzoxazine smarter focusing on the advancement of benzoxazine-based vitrimers. These two research fields converge in the final chapter, showcasing the introduction of the first lignin-based benzoxazine vitrimers.

How was your time with LIST as a PhD candidate?

My PhD thesis marked a turning point in my scientific career and the perspective of becoming a researcher. I have developed scientific expertise in various areas of polymer chemistry that led to the publication of articles or the filling of patents and gave me the opportunity to communicate at multiple international conferences. These experiences have strengthened my communication skills and I was awarded the “Most Attractive Presentation” in a symposium on Benzoxazines (ISPBZ 2021).

All these scientific achievements would be impossible outside the excellent working environment within LIST, conducive to personal and professional development. I have been extremely lucky to be part of an amazing, inclusive, and productive team; but also to be supervised by an outstanding mentor. I am honored by the confidence he has placed in me since my first internship (2017) and I have done my best during my thesis to contribute to the success of the group. The wealth of knowledge and experience is equally distributed among the different students to further advance science in a constructive way.

My time in LIST is also marked by the discovery of a multicultural environment where I met incredible colleagues/friends coming from all over the world. Teambuilding activities such as football games on Wednesday afternoons have contributed to strengthening links between the different departments. With such administrative, well-being, and scientific (intellectual and technical) support, LIST embodies the vehicle for the sustainable growth of fulfilled scientists.

What are your future plans ?

After two weeks off following my Ph.D. defense, I will start my new position as a Junior R&T associate in LIST. The project focuses on the design of vitrimers for car panel applications and will be conducted in the frame of the Sustainable Composite Materials & Manufacturing (SCMM) Innovation Centre managed by the Materials Research and Technology department.