Chemical Physics and Dynamics of Surfaces – Nanoparticles

Since their initial use for colouring cups by the ancient Romans, a large number of amazing properties of nanoparticles related to their small size has been discovered and still continue to emerge. In our team we work on the synthesis of nanocrystals with a focus on narrow band gap materials for the design of optoelectronics devices; we work to understand the adhesion of nanoparticles with a focus on the influence of nanoparticle radioactivity in the context of the ITER project; we work on the use of gold nanoparticles as ultra-small electron dispensers, the goal being to control electric current with the accuracy of a single electron ; we work on the catalytic properties of supported metallic nanoparticles ; we work to control nanoparticle organizations, the nanoparticle being confined within liquid crystal topological defects, in order to let emerge new kinds of nanoparticle optical properties in relation with the electromagnetic coupling between nanoparticles.

1. Nanocrystals growth
2. Adhesion of individual nanoparticles
3. Nanoelectronics, single charge electronics with gold nanoparticles
4. New nanoparticle organizations for original nanoparticle optical properties
5. Supported nanocatalysts growth and reactivity