Physics of Materials and Nanostructures

Physics of Materials and Nanostructures (PMN)

The Physics of Materials and Nanostructures (PMN) team brings together materials physicists and chemists, combining their expertise to explore matter at the nanoscale. We develop complementary experimental and theoretical approaches, from the synthesis and manipulation of new materials to advanced modeling of their properties. Our approach is based on strong interaction between design, characterization and fundamental understanding, with a particular focus on methodological innovation. The team’s research is organized around three themes.

Team news

Discover all PMN publications on the HAL national archive.

I consult

Main themes

1. Nanoobjects Nanopores

2. Interactions at bio-interfaces

3. Quantum materials with unconventional properties and functionalities

Cross-team themes

– Modelling

– Hybrid materials

– Chalcogen materials

Areas of expertise and tools

The team’s themes are based on a set of original and specific skills and techniques covering :

Optical and vibrational spectroscopy (Raman scattering, IR absorption, transient absorption spectroscopy TAS),
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and other near-field microscopies,
Electron microscopy and spectroscopy, EELS, EDX,
Atomic modeling and simulation of physical properties (DFT, DFTB+, MD, in-house codes),
Electrical transport and magnetotransport measurements,
Physical chemistry of confined environments and interfaces,
Nanostructure characterization (zeta potential, DLS),
Specific synthesis (e.g. topotactic, plasma, sol-gel).

Ongoing research projects (ANR, PEPR, Europe…)

8 ANR, 2 PDL, Dracula, 2 Triton, Mott-IMC, Mott-IA, ERC Dreamswim, COST project

Projects

Teaching

Alongside their research activities, the PMN team’s teacher-researchers are heavily involved in training, teaching courses in various bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs. They are also responsible for teaching in several Nantes University courses.

Training

Academic and industrial collaborations

Academic collaborations

National and international academic collaborations (Spain, Great Britain, Germany, Japan, USA, Australia, etc.).

Industrial collaborations

Regional, national and international industrial collaborations in the following fields: soft matter interaction (e.g. polymers) – inorganic nano-objects, catalysis, materials for new data storage technologies, vibrational spectroscopy, bio-interface.

Involvement in learned societies and scientific communities

Société Française de Physique, CNano, Société francophone d’étude des carbones, Société Française de Spectroscopie Vibrationnelle, British carbon group, IRL…