Category: Faculties
Status: Assistant professor
Employer: Bordeaux University
Team: Leader Polymers and Environment
Location: N1-38
33 (0)5 56 84 6189
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My long-term ambition is to bridge polymer chemistry and environmental sciences by designing materials whose end-of-life is considered as a fundamental design parameter rather than an afterthought.
Expertise
Sustainable Polymer Synthesis − Green Polymer Chemistry − Safe-by-Design Polymers − Polymer Catalysis − High-Pressure Chemistry − Reactive Extrusion − Polymer Processing − Bio-based Polymers − Non-Isocyanate Polyurethanes (NIPUs) − Polymer Biodegradation − Structure–Degradation Relationships − Mechanical Recycling − Polymer Compatibilization −Non-Intentionally Added Substances (NIAS) − Micro- and Nanoplastics
I was trained in chemistry and physical chemistry at the École Normale Supérieure de Cachan (France) before undertaking a PhD in polymer chemistry at CPE Lyon, where I investigated radical and coordination–insertion polymerization of ethylene under the supervision of Dr. Vincent Monteil, Dr. Christophe Boisson and Dr. Roger Spitz (2007–2010). During my first postdoctoral position, I worked on Ziegler–Natta catalysis by combining theoretical chemistry (Prof. Philippe Sautet, ENS Lyon), surface chemistry (Prof. Christophe Copéret, ETH Zurich) and polymer chemistry (Dr. Vincent Monteil, C2P2). I then joined the group of Prof. Stefan Mecking at the University of Konstanz (Germany), where I developed palladium-catalyzed polymerizations of bio-based monomers derived from lipids and terpenes.
In 2013, I joined the LCPO as Assistant Professor in the group of Prof. Henri Cramail. My early research focused on the development of sustainable polymer synthesis, including bio-based polymers, high-pressure polymer chemistry, CO₂ valorization and non-isocyanate polyurethanes.
Today, I lead the Polymers & Environment research team at LCPO. My research aims to integrate environmental considerations into polymer design by combining polymer chemistry, green chemistry, polymer processing and physico-chemistry. I develop safe-by-design polymer materials, investigate their biodegradation and environmental fate, and design innovative strategies to improve their recyclability. A major objective of my research is to establish structure–property–degradation relationships that enable the development of the next generation of environmentally compatible polymer materials.
I also manage the LCPO high-pressure chemistry platform, dedicated to polymerization under gases (ethylene, propylene, CO₂, H₂), supercritical CO₂ processing and catalytic transformations. More recently, my activities have expanded toward reactive extrusion, aqueous polymer synthesis, and the development of experimental methodologies to study polymer degradation and the behavior of micro- and nanoplastics in complex environments.
Beyond research, I am actively involved in science communication. I manage a YouTube channel and develop LEGO-based educational activities to explain polymer science, recycling and environmental issues to schools and the general public.
My main lecture topics are on "Green Polymers", "Polymer recycling", "Polymers for packaging" and "Polymers for adhesives and paints".
I am also actively engaged in disseminating knowledge about polymers to a broader audience through conferences such as "Plastic is fantastic ‽ Is there a future for this miraculous material turned into an existential threat?" These events are designed to provide a comprehensive perspective on the history, usage, end-of-life considerations, and associated challenges of plastic, offering a systemic understanding of the subject.
I manage a YouTube channel dedicated to science outreach, where I explain polymer science and plastics using LEGO as an educational tool. I also design and deliver hands-on workshops for children (5+ years old) to introduce fundamental concepts in polymer synthesis, material properties, recycling, and end-of-life through interactive LEGO-based activities.
I am also one the two expert who participate to Eco Lanta a documentary about Plastic usage and consequences
I was interiewed by several media (TF1, France 2, France 5, Le Parisien, Draw Me un materiau …).
In 2010, I was awarded by the GFP (French polymer group) for the best PhD.
In April 2020, during the Covid-19 lockdown, I set up an online webinar series on polymer science with about 4 talks a week. The talks were available on Youtube live and in replay for 1 month.
I obtained the joint SCF/GFP award in 2020.
Between 2017-2020 I is an editor-in-chief of Green Material. In this framework I chaired once a year the Frontier in Green Material Symposium.
From a personal and associative standpoint, I believe that popularization can have a significant impact, especially regarding polymers (plastics).
That's why, for the past five years, I have been actively involved in this endeavor. In particular, I am deeply engaged in the association responsible for creating the Plastic Collage, which aims to provide information on the subject of plastic to a wide audience.
This collage now exists in five versions—adult, Quizz, child, and developing countries—and is available in seven languages.
Since his arrival at the LCPO he published 110 research articles and 10 patents.
His paper on PHU for capacitors was highlighted by several media including CNRS.
Zidouhia Doha, Grau Etienne, Bassani Dario M.
Journal title: Coordination Chemistry Reviews, Volume(s): 562, Part 1, Page(s): 217875 https://hal.science/hal-05601298/document 10.1016/j.ccr.2026.217875 (2026)
Shen Guanfei, Pouységu Laurent, Schatz Christophe, Grau Etienne, Quideau Stéphane
Journal title: Chemistry - A European Journal 10.1002/chem.71120 (2026)
Amirov Zakir, Alembik Léna, Ham-Pichavant Frédérique, Coma Véronique, Grau Etienne
Journal title: Next Materials, Volume(s): 10, Page(s): 101475 10.1016/j.nxmate.2025.101475 (2026)
