Houssam El-Rassy

Assistant Professor

Inorganic Chemistry

B.S., Lebanese University (1999); M.S., University Claude Bernard Lyon I (2000); Ph.D., University Claude Bernard Lyon I (2003); Postdoctoral Fellow, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris VI, 2003-2004); Lecturer, Lebanese University (2004-2005); Assistant Professor, Collège de France (2004-2005).

Research

My research interests are focused on the synthesis and characterization of silica and titania solid materials obtained via the sol-gel process and dried according to the supercritical drying technique leading to highly porous aerogels. These solids are obtained via hydrolysis and polycondensation of several precursors including organically functionalized silicon and titanium precursors. The surface modification of these solids influences their hydrophilic/hydrophobic nature and therefore enlarges their range of application. Another category of these materials are hybrids obtained by cross-linking the inorganic network with various organic gels obtained by photo- or thermo-polymerization of several polymers and copolymers.

We develop several techniques for the synthesis of sol-gel materials and their use in a wide range of applications in catalysis, biosensing, medicine, water purification and environment protection. Several topics are currently under investigation:
- Synthesis of hybrid silica-polymer aerogels and xerogels: The obtained composites are used as entrapment media for biomolecules (biocatalysis use) and in water decontamination.
- Preparation of clusters doped-silica sol-gel materials and their use in oxidation catalysis.
- Development of clusters doped-silica/titania photocatalysts for environmental purposes.
- Application of titania aerogels in water purification.

Selected Publications