Axis IV

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Developement of new strategies for shaping, modifying and characterizing materials by various types of radiation

Field 4 is a transverse recherche axe, in which the teams involved develop materials for detection, photovoltaics and optoelectronics, as well as processes for the fabrication and modification of materials using radiation. A wide range of radiations is exploited: UV, visible and infrared radiations, as well as X-rays, accelerated electrons and ions. These radiations can be used for photocatalysis, synthesis of polymers, of composites, of nanoparticles, or modification of surfaces by nanopatterning, of biomaterials and material analysis.

Subtheme 1 : Materials for radiations

The research carried out by several teams of axe 4 have in common that they focus on the development of materials in order to exploit radiations, essentially luminous ones, for various applications. At the molecular level, synthesis routes are developed to obtain molecules with original absorption and luminescence properties, which can be used for detection, biology or optoelectronics (ICPEES - COMBO). Organic photocatalysts are developed for radical photochemistry (LIMA-CRHI). The PECMAT team (ICS) develops and characterizes bi-metallic nanoparticles and assemblies of nanoparticles, in the form of bi-metallic polymers or supracrystals, whose optical properties can be controlled. The MaCEPV team (ICube) develops and studies the electronic and optical properties of inorganic or organic thin films, and integrates them as photosensitive layers in optoelectronic devices such as photovoltaic cells or energy autonomous optical modulators.

Subtheme 2 : Radiations for materials

Radiations are also used for the synthesis, modification or study of materials. The work of the "Free Radical and Macromolecular Chemistry" group of IS2M focuses on the development of photoinitiators and more generally of new strategies for photopolymerization, in order to obtain polymers with original properties. Photopolymerization can also be applied to the synthesis of porous polymer-oxide composites of zeolite type (IS2M - MPC axis). The use of interfering "Deep UV" photons allows the modification of large surfaces of materials to achieve micro-nanostructuring, with applications in micro-sensors, optics, microfluidics... (IS2M - PHOTON). The MaCEPV team uses ion and photon beams to elaborate or modify, at the nanometric scale, semiconductor materials for applications in optoelectronics or detection. Ionizing radiation (ions, electrons) can also be used for the engineering of biosourced materials and the functionalization of surfaces by biomolecules (Radiochimie –IPHC with IS2M, Aerial). For the analysis of materials, the super-resolved microscopy systems, developed by the IPP team (Icube), are unique instruments for the study of the optical properties of materials at the nanometric scale, allowing 2D mapping.