Inorganic Materials & Nanostructures

The Inorganic Materials & Nanostructures (MINOS) group brings together researchers and teacher-researchers working on the development and/or characterization of functional materials as well as on their integration into devices. In addition to the study of physico-chemical and functional properties, an integral part of the work concerns the obtaining of satisfactory properties to ensure efficient and durable operation of the material. The compounds elaborated include metal oxides (pure, doped or in composite form), metals, group 14 nitrides and their solid solutions, multiferroics (lead-free ferroelectrics), organic-inorganic hybrids or new phases of the B-C-N-O-X system. The synthesis techniques and elaboration processes used are varied. They include new synthesis methods by soft chemistry, by plasma-chemistry or by laser irradiation. Other unconventional processes are also used for the production of materials, combining high pressure and extreme temperature conditions (HP-HT) or large deformations (HP-GD). As illustrated in the video below, the strong competences of MINOS members in terms of combined approaches allow to engage the most appropriate ones for the elaboration of innovative materials, chemistry, HP-HT-GD processes and laser irradiation obviously included.

^{Organic-inorganic hybrid materials developed under HP ramp (video from Labex SEAM)}

The research topics and the fields of application explored with regard to the functional properties of the materials studied are those of catalysis, plasma-catalysis (biomass valorization and methane reforming), photo-catalysis (gas and water depollution), pyrolysis (biomass valorization), photonics (refractive micro-optics, optics resistant to ionizing radiation), biomedicine (bactericidal and biocompatible structures), magnetism (new magnets without rare earths, nanomagnets for magnetic recording), ultradurors and materials combining high mechanical strength and ductility, as well as transport (gas pipelines), solid (nano-adsorbents), and buffer (tanks) storage of hydrogen. The research focuses on the control of elaboration processes and, in particular, the influence of morphology at the nanometric scale on functional properties.