Liquid Crystal Sensors to monitor Pesticides in Air

IMT Atlantique ³ is a leading French graduate engineering school and research center that plays a major role in education, research, and technology transfer within the national industrial landscape.

 The Arago platform ⁴, located on the Brest campus, is a key component of this mission. It embodies IMT Atlantique’s expertise in optics, micro- and nano-optics, liquid crystal technologies, smart sensors, and advanced materials, providing access to clean rooms, specialized equipment, and a collaborative environment for academic and industrial projects. As an innovation and acceleration hub, Arago serves as a bridge between IMT Atlantique’s research laboratories and industry — supporting prototyping, process development, and technology transfer to companies ranging from startups to large industrial groups. Through this platform, IMT Atlantique not only advances scientific knowledge but also transforms it into practical applications, offering students and interns the opportunity to engage in cutting-edge technological projects with real-world impact.

3- https://www.imt-atlantique.fr/fr

4- https://www.imt-atlantique.fr/en/research-innovation/collaborate/platform/arago

• Context

Air pollution caused by pesticides is a component of atmospheric pollution that remains less documented than other environments (water, soil, food) and represents a topical health problem ¹. Furthermore, there is a lack of tools to monitor respiratory exposure to pesticides during or after spray applications. The ANR project OPAL aims to address this challenge by developing wearable devices for on-site and real-time monitoring of pesticides in air. To achieve this, the project relies on transducers based on the principle of anchoring transitions of liquid crystals (LCs) ².

• Subject

The objective of this internship will be to contribute to the development and testing of air pesticide sensors based on liquid crystal (LC) transducers. The work will involve the identification and characterization of interfaces exhibiting a selective anchoring transition of LCs in the presence of target pesticides, through both molecular modeling and experimental approaches (preparation and characterization of modified substrates, LC anchoring, and exposure to pesticides). The intern will also participate in the preparation of LC transducers combining the LC layer, a functionalized substrate, and a protective porous membrane, using reliable and reproducible technological processes.

A specific focus of the internship will be to evaluate the stability and aging of these transducers under different environmental conditions, in order to assess their durability and long-term performance. Depending on progress, the work may also include assembling several LC transducers into an array and contributing to the development of the associated detection and signal processing systems.

1- ANSES. Campagne nationale exploratoire des pesticides dans l’air ambiant. Premières interprétations sanitaires. (2020).

2- Shah, R. R. Principles for Measurement of Chemical Exposure Based on Recognition-Driven Anchoring Transitions in Liquid Crystals. Science (80-. ). 293, 1296–1299 (2001).

• Master 2 student in Chemistry and/or Physico-chemistry with a polymeric materials background and/or nano/micro-technologies and/or electronic background,

• Cleanroom and photo-lithography experience,
• Taste and aptitude for laboratory experimentation (fabrication) and practical

      applications,

• Ability to work and write scientific reports,
• Knowledge of French is an advantage but not required initially,
• Knowledge of English (written).
• Spirit of synthesis, of rigour and openness, good oral and written communication,
• Python programing will be an advantage.