Kim LARMIER

Research Engineer in Molecular Catalysis

Summary

After higher education at the École Normale Supérieure and obtaining the Agrégation in Chemistry in 2010, I defended a PhD in 2015 at Sorbonne Universités (Paris) under the supervision of Hélène Pernot and Eric Marceau, in collaboration with IFP Energies nouvelles. My PhD topic dealt with the transformation of bio-based alcohols catalyzed by acid-base solids such as γ-alumina, using combined experimental-theoretical approaches. I then carried out a postdoctoral stay at ETH Zürich in Christophe Copéret's group, where I worked on two catalyzed carbon dioxide conversion reactions: methanol synthesis and dry reforming of methane.

Since 2018, I have worked as a researcher at IFP Energies nouvelles on both fundamental and applied research projects in the field of plastics recycling and the conversion of sugars from biomass into bioproducts. My work combines experimental approaches (catalysis, NMR or XAS spectroscopy) and theoretical chemistry approaches (Density Functional Theory, DFT).

My work has been showcased in 38 publications and 15 patents, and its contribution has been rewarded with 3 prizes: the 2017 Louis Armand Prize of the Académie des Sciences, the 2023 Young Research Prize of the city and metropolis of Lyon, and the 2025 Young Researcher Prize of the Catalysis Division of the SCF. In addition, I am co-inventor of patents that are currently giving rise to applications on an industrial scale.

I am currently preparing my Habilitation to Direct Research, which I aim to defend in September 2025.

Disciplinary fields

Chemical sciences
Catalysis and reaction kinetics
Theoretical chemistry

Research topics

Biomass conversion
Plastics recycling

Business areas

Climate, environment and circular economy
Plastics recycling
Renewable energies
Bio-based chemistry

Projects

Since 2021, I am Principal Investigator of the French Research National Agency (ANR) project SELECTOSZE (ANR-21-CE07-0043-01), carried out at IFPEN. This project ambitions to understand the factors that drive the selectivity in the transformation of biomass-based sugars (glucose, fructose, xylose) catalyzed by Lewis-acid zeolites M-β, where M is a tetravalent metal ion inserted in framework position (M = Sn, Ti, Zr, Hf). Such materials have proven to be efficient for the isomerization of glucose into fructose, but they can also catalyze other reactions, such as the retro-aldolization of sugars, which is a key step for the formation of short-chain chemicals from sugars, such as lactic acid or ethylene glycol.

The project encompasses catalyst synthesis actions, catalytic reactions including mechanistic studies, resorting to isotopic labelling experiments, DFT calculations, which aimed at (i) describing accurately the speciation of the Sn sites in different operating conditions (ii) realizing a mechanistic study of the conversion of sugars.

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Publications

38 – « Relationship between Lewis acid sites and carbohydrate reactivity over Sn-β catalysts »

Y. Boudjema, A. Brunel, R. del Cerro, G. Pirngruber, C. Chizallet, K. Larmier*

Catalysis Science and Technology, 2025, 15, 396-404, DOI: 10.1039/D4CY01147C

37 – « Identification of Key Active Species in the Conversion of C6 and C4 Sugars by Tungsten and Molybdenum Homogeneous Salts »

S. El Mohammad, N. Noël, O. Proux, A. Aguilar, J.-L. Hazemann, C. Legens, C. Chizallet, K. Larmier*

ACS Catalysis, 2024, 14, 10998-11013, DOI : 10.1021/acscatal.4c02791

36 – « In-Depth study of the adsorptive separation of glucose and xylose with alkaline and alkaline-earth exchanged faujasite zeolites by breakthrough experiments »

W. Ammar, K. Larmier, A. Méthivier, M. Manko*

Separation and Purification Technology, 2025, 354, 128784, DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2024.128784

35 – « Dehydration of fructose to 5-HMF catalyzed by commercial faujasite zeolites: kinetic study and influence of the properties of the catalyst ».

Y. Han, N. Caillol, A. Mekki-Berrada, F. Allain, G. Pirngruber, K. Larmier*

ChemCatChem, 2024, e202400257, DOI: 10.1002/cctc.202400257

34 – « Investigating Closed and Open Site Stability of Sn-, Ti-, Zr- and Hf-Beta Zeolites: a Comprehensive Periodic-DFT Study »

N. Abidi, Y. Boudjema, C. Chizallet, K. Larmier*

The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2024, 128, 8257-8269, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.4c02371

33 – « Direct and TEMPO-mediated electrooxidation of 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural in organic and hydro-organic media »

N. T. Vo, Q. Cacciutollo, D. Pasquier, K. Larmier*

ChemElectroChem, 2024, e202400116, DOI: 10.1002/celc.202400116

32 – « Deciphering the structure of tungstate and molybdate complexes with glucose, mannose and erythrose »

S. El Mohammad, O. Proux, A. Aguilar, J.-L. Hazemann, C. Legens, C. Chizallet, K. Larmier*

Inorganic Chemistry, 2024, 63, 3129-3136, DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.3c04236

31 – « Generation of mesoporosity in H-Y zeolites by basic or acid/basic treatments: towards a guideline of optimal Si/Al ratio and basic reagent »

Y. Han, K. Larmier, M. Rivallan, G. Pirngruber*

Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 2024, 365, 112906, DOI: 10.1016/j.micromeso.2023.112906

30 – « Elucidation of Metal-Sugar Complexes: When Tungstate Combines with D-Mannose»

S. El Mohammad, O. Proux, A. Aguilar, J.-L. Hazemann, C. Legens, C. Chizallet, K. Larmier*

Inorganic Chemistry, 2023, 62, 7545-7556, DOI:10.1021/acs.inorgchem.3c00911

29 – « Molecular Views on Mechanisms of Brønsted Acid-Catalyzed Reactions in Zeolites»

C. Chizallet,* C. Bouchy, K. Larmier, G. Pirngruber

Chemical Reviews, 2023, 123, 6107-6196, DOI:10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00896

28 – « CO2 Hydrogenation on Cu-Catalysts Generated from ZnII single-Sites: Enhanced CH3OH Selectivity Compared to Cu/ZnO/Al2O3»

E. Lam, G. Noh, K. Larmier, O. Safonova, C. Copéret*

Journal of Catalysis, 2021, 393, 266-272, DOI:10.1016/j.jcat.2020.04.028

27 – «Enhanced CH3OH Selectivity in CO2 Hydrogenation using Cu-based Catalysts Generated via SOMC from GaIII Single-Sites»

E. Lam, G. Noh, K.-W. Chan, K. Larmier, D. Lebedev, K. Searles, P. Wolf, O. Safonova, C. Copéret*

Chemical Science, 2020, 11, 7593-7598, DOI:10.1039/d0sc00465k

26 – «CO2 Hydrogenation on Cu/Al2O3: Role of Metal/Support Interface in Driving Activity and Selectivity of a Bifunctional Catalyst »

E. Lam, J.-J. Corral-Pérez, K. Larmier, G. Noh, P. Wolf, A. Comas-Vives, A. Urakawa, C. Copéret*

Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2019, 58, 13989-13996, DOI: 10.1002/anie.201908060

25 – « Zr(IV) Surface Sites Determine CH3OH Formation Rate on Cu/ZrO2/SiO2 CO2 Hydrogenation Catalysts»

E. Lam,‡ K. Larmier,‡ P. Wolf, S. Tada, O. Safonova, C. Copéret*

Chinese Journal of Catalysis, 2019, 11, 1741-1748, DOI:10.1016/s1872-2067(19)63348-6

24 – « Metal(II) Formates (M=Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu) Stabilized by Tetramethylethylenediamine (tmeda): Convenient Molecular Precursors for the Synthesis of Supported Nanoparticles»

T. Margossian, K. Larmier, F. Allouche, K.W. Chan, C. Copéret*

Helvetica Chimica Acta, 2019, 102, e180022, DOI: 10.1002/hlca.201800227

23 – « Selective Hydrogenation of CO2 to CH3OH on Supported Cu Nanoparticles Promoted by Isolated TiIV Surface Sites on SiO2»

G. Noh, E. Lam, J. Alfke, K. Larmier, K. Searles, P. Wolf, C. Copéret*

ChemSusChem, 2019, 12, 968-972, DOI: 10.1002/cssc.201900134

22 – « What can we learn from first principles multi-scale models in catalysis? The role of the Ni/Al2O3 interface in water-gas shift and dry reforming as a case study »

L. Foppa,* K. Larmier, A. Comas-Vives

Chimia (Swiss Chemical Society), 2019, 73, 239-244, DOI:10.2533/chimia.2019.239

21 – « Isolated Zr Surface Sites on Silica Promotes Hydrogenation of CO2 to CH3OH in Supported Cu Catalysts»

E. Lam,‡ K. Larmier,‡ P. Wolf, S. Tada, O. Safonova, C. Copéret*

The Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2018, 140, 10530-10535, DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b05595

20 – « Origin of Ligand-Driven Selectivity in Alkyne Semihydrogenation over Silica-Supported Copper Nanoparticles »

N. Kaeffer,‡ K. Larmier,‡ A. Fedorov, C. Copéret*

Journal of Catalysis, 2018, 364, 437-445, DOI:10.1016/j.jcat.2018.06.006

19 – « Discerning γ-Alumina Surface Sites with 15N-Dynamic Nuclear Polarization Surface Enhanced NMR Spectroscopy of Adsorbed Pyridine»

I. Moroz, K. Larmier, W.-C. Liao, C. Copéret*

The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2018, 122, 10871-10882, DOI:10.1021/acs.jpcc.8b01823

18 – Methanol synthesis via CO2 hydrogenation over CuO-ZrO2 prepared by Two-Nozzle Flame Spray Pyrolysis »

S. Tada, K. Larmier, R. Buechel,* C. Copéret

Catalysis Science and Technology, 2018, 8,2056-2060, DOI:10.1039/c8cy00250a

17 – « Contrasting the Role of Interfacial Sites in Water-Gas Shift and Dry Reforming of Methane by Multiscale Modelling»

L. Foppa, T. Margossian, S.-M. Kim, C. Mueller, C. Copéret, K. Larmier,* A. Comas-Vives*

The Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2017, 139, 17128-17139, DOI:10.1021/jacs.7b08984

Highlighted in JACS Spotlight, 139, 48, 17199-17200

16 – « Supported Bimetallic NiFe Nanoparticles Through Colloid Synthesis for Improved Dry Reforming Performance »

T. Margossian, K. Larmier, S.-M. Kim, F. Krumeich, C. Muller, C. Copéret*

ACS Catalysis, 2017, 7, 6942-6948, DOI:10.1021/acscatal.7b02091

15 – [T] « Thermodynamic Characterization of the Hydroxyl Groups on the γ-alumina surface by the Energy Distribution Function »

M. Lagauche, K. Larmier, E. Jolimaitre,* K. Barthelet, C. Chizallet, L. Favergeon, M. Pijolat

The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2017, 121, 16770-16782, DOI:10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b02498

14 – « Molecularly Tailored Nickel Precursor and Support Yield a Stable Methane Dry Reforming Catalyst with Superior Metal Utilization »

T. Margossian, K. Larmier, S.-M. Kim, F. Krumeich, A. Fedorov, P. Chen, C. Muller, C. Copéret*

The Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2017, 139, 6919-6927, DOI:10.1021/jacs.7b01625

13 – « Understanding surface site structures and properties by first principles calculations: an experimental point of view!»

A. Comas-Vives, K. Larmier, C. Copéret*

Chemical Communications, 2017, 53, 4296-4303, DOI:10.1039/C7CC01101F

12 – « CO2-to-Methanol Hydrogenation on Zirconia-Supported Copper Nanoparticles: Reaction Intermediates and the Role of the Metal-Support Interface »

K. Larmier, W.-C. Liao, S. Tada, E. Lam, R. Vérel, A. Bansode, A. Urakawa, A. Comas-Vives,* C. Copéret*

Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2017, 56, 2318-2323, DOI:10.1002/anie.201610166

11 – [T] « Isopropanol Dehydration on Amorphous Silica-Alumina: Synergy of Bronsted and Lewis Acidities at Pseudo-Bridging Silanols »

K. Larmier, C. Chizallet*, S. Maury, N. Cadran, J. Abboud, A.-F. Lamic-Humblot, E. Marceau, H. Pernot

Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2017, 56, 230-234, DOI:10.1002/anie.201609494

10 – « Composition-Dependent Surface Chemistry of colloidal BaxSr1-xO3 perovskite nanocrystals »

T. Margossian, S.P. Culver, K. Larmier, F. Zhu, R. L. Brutchey, C. Copéret*

Chemical Communications, 2016, 52, 13791-13794, DOI:10.1039/c6cc07298d

9 – « Surface Sites in Cu-Nanoparticles: Chemical Reactivity or Microscopy? »

K. Larmier, S. Tada, A. Comas-Vives, C. Copéret*

The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 2016, 7, 3259-3263, DOI:10.1021/acs.jpclett.6b01328

8 – « Isolated Surface Hydrides: Formation, Structure and Reactivity »

C. Copéret,* D. Estes, K. Larmier, K. Searles

Chemical Reviews, 2016, 116, 8463-8505, DOI:10.1021/acs.chemrev.6b00082

7 – « Intrinsic reactivity of Ni, Pd, Pt surfaces in dry reforming and competitive reactions: Insights from first principles calculations and kinetic modelling simulations »

L. Foppa, M.-C. Silaghi, K. Larmier, A. Comas-Vives*

Journal of Catalysis, 2016,34, 196-207, DOI:10.1016/j.jcat.2016.02.030

6 – (in french) « Couplage expérimentation/modélisation multi-échelles pour la détermination des mécanismes réactionnels »

K. Larmier*, C. Chizallet, E. Marceau, H. Pernot

L’Actualité Chimique (French Chemical Society), 2016, 408-409, 130-133, link

5 – (in french) « Modélisation par théorie de la fonctionnelle de la densité de catalyseurs hétérogènes à base de silice-alumines amorphes »

C. Chizallet*, K. Larmier, F. Leydier, D. Costa, P. Raybaud

L’Actualité Chimique (French Chemical Society), 2016, 403, 30-35, link

4 – « Influence of co-adsorbed water and alcohol molecules on isopropanol dehydration on γ-alumina: Multi-scale modeling of experimental kinetic profiles »

K. Larmier*, C. Chizallet*, A. Nicolle, S. Maury, N. Cadran, A.-F. Lamic-Humblot, E. Marceau, H. Pernot*

ACS Catalysis, 2016, 6, 1905-1920, DOI:10.1021/acscatal.6b00080

3 – « Aqueous-phase preparation of model HDS catalysts on planar alumina substrates: support effect on Mo adsorption and sulfidation »

C. Bara, L. Plais, K. Larmier, E. Devers, M. Digne, A.-F. Lamic-Humblot, G. Pirngruber, X. Carrier*

The Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2015, 137, 15915-15928, DOI:10.1021/jacs.5b10975

2 – « Mechanistic investigation of isopropanol conversion on alumina catalysts: location of active sites for alkene / ether production »

K. Larmier*, C. Chizallet*, S. Maury, N. Cadran, J. Abboud, A.-F. Lamic-Humblot, E. Marceau*, H. Pernot

ACS Catalysis, 2015, 5, 4423-4437 , DOI:10.1021/acscatal.5b00723

1 – « Tuning the Metal-Support Interaction by Structural Recognition of Cobalt-Based Catalysts Precursors »

K. Larmier, C. Chizallet*, P. Raybaud

Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2015, 54, 6824-6827, DOI:10.1002/anie.201502069