Directory

CNRS Research Associate

Position:

Since 2020 CNRS Researcher (CR CNRS), IMN, CNRS

Form positions:

• 2019 -2020 Research Scientist CDD in Materials Chem.(Next Junior Talent Chair), IMN, CNRS
• 2015 – 2019 Staff Research Scientist, SuperSTEM Laboratory, EPSRC National Research Centre for Advanced Electron Microscopy, UK
• 2015 – 2019 SuperSTEM research fellow, University of Leeds, UK
• 2012 – 2014 Postdoctoral Researcher, Pacific Northwest National Laboratoy, USA
• 2011 – 2012 Postdoctoral Researcher, University of California-Davis, USA

Main research topics:

• Solid-liquid interfaces on hybrid and biomaterials probed using electron microscopy;
• The development and application of new electron microscopy methods for properties-structure relationship of beam sensitive materials and radiolysis quantification in the electron microscope.

Biography:

Patricia Abellan is a CNRS researcher at the Institute of Materials of Nantes (IMN) Jean Rouxel, Nantes University, since 2019. She received her BSc in Physics from the Aalborg University (Denmark) and her Ph.D. in Materials Sciences from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Spain, in 2011. She has held postdoctoral positions at the University of California – Davis and at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, USA, before taking a staff research scientist position at the SuperSTEM Laboratory (Daresbury, UK) in 2015. Her research focuses on the study of solid-liquid interfaces on hybrid and biomaterials using electron microscopy as well as on the elucidation of the radiation chemistry and radiation physics driving the processes at liquid-solid interfaces induced by the electron beam in an electron microscope. In 2013 she received the Best Ph.D. Thesis Award from the SME, in 2019 she was the laureate of the NExT Junior Talent program and in 2023 she won an European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant. She has given over 35 invited presentations at international conferences and academic institutions on the development and application of electron microscopy methods.

Current research projects

• Osteocytes extracellular vesicles cargos: a new approach for regenerative medicine of bone tissue (OVERbone), ANR PRC (ANR-20-CE18-0015); national collaborative project (2 partners), 505.3k€ (149k€ for WP2), 2021-2025, Role: WP2 leader
• Dosimetry of Ultra-High Dose-Rate Electron Beams at Solid-Water Interfaces in Electron Microscopy: A Key Advance in Hydrated Samples Research (DREAM-SWIM), HORIZON-ERC CoG (project 101124066); individual project, 2.1 M€, 2024-2029, Role: PI
• Intensified PRocess coupling reaction and separation using Enzymes-functionalized Membranes for the recovery of bIomolecUles from Microalgae (PREMIUM), ANR PRCI (ANR-23-CE51-0059); international collaborative project (3 partners), 700k€ (207.7k€ for WP), 2024-2026, Role: Co-PI
• OPerando analyses and modelling of INterface dynamics and CHARGE transport in lithium-ion batteries (OPINCHARGE), HORIZON-RIA, (HORIZONCL5-2022-D2-01; proposal 101104032); international collaborative project (10 partners), 5.7 M€ (710 k€ for WP), 2023-2026, Role: Partner/Participant

Activities in the research community

• Member of the French microscopy society (SFmu), French BIOMAT, Spanish microscopy society (SME), European Microsc. Society (EMS), Microscopy society of America (MSA)
• Member of the Proposal Review Panel of the European Research Infrastructure ReMAde@ARI project, since 2025
• Member of organization committee of the annual congress of l’association française des biomatériaux (BIOMAT) 2026
• Member of the Access Committee (AC) of the Spanish ELECMI (elecmi.es), since 2022
• Member of the Transnational Access proposal evaluation committee (TAPEC) in the European ESTEEM3 project, 2022-2023
• Member of the panel of independent experts of the French METSA research federation, since 2022
• Member of the Editorial Board of the journal Micron, Elsevier, since 2019
• Member of CINT External Proposal Review Board, DOE Center for Integrated Nanotechnol. Sandia National Laboratories, since 2018
• Guest editor (managing editor) of Special Issue in Liquid-phase EM in Micron
• Member of Scientific proposal internal review panel, EPSRC SuperSTEM Lab, 2015-2017
• Symposium organizer at major international conferences including European-Materials research society (E-MRS) 2019 Fall Meeting, Warsaw, Poland; EUROMAT 2021, Graz, Austria (virtual conference); Microscopy & Microanalysis (Portland 2019 and Minneapolis 2023) and Colloque SFµ 2023, SDM2: In Situ, operando, Rouen, France
• Discussion leader (2), Gordon Research conferences (GRC) on liquid-phase EM, 2020 & 2024, Italy
• Panel Discussion at Biophysics & Physical Microscopy conference 2023, Institute of Physics, London
• Keynote speaker, 19th International Microscopy Congress 2018, Sydney, Australia
  o Session chair at international conferences, including Microscopy & Microanalysis 2017, 2019 and 2023, E-MRS 2018 and 2019 Fall meetings, GRC on liquid phase EM 2020 and 2024, EUROMAT 2021, Colloque SFµ 2023
• Program chair Pre-meeting congress on radiation beam damage, prior to Microscopy and Microanalysis 2017, 70 participants, St. Louis, USA and Third Virtual workshop of MaterialWell (2022)
• 42 invited talks at international conferences (31) and research/academic institutions (11)
• Member of PhD thesis jury (2), University of Basque Country, CIC NanoGUNE 2025 and CEA-Leti at the University of Grenoble Alpes 2021
• Co-organizer of the physics of materials and nanostructures (PMN) group scientific seminars, since January 2021
• Member of jury for best student presentation awards at international conferences, including symposium L in E-MRS 2018 Fall meeting, conference MMC2019 and GRD NanOperando 2019
• Member of local organization team: 7th biennial SuperSTEM Summer School, 2018, UK

Distinction:

2013 Best Ph.D. Thesis in Materials Science Award (biennial 2011-2012). Awarded by the Microscopy Society of Spain (SME)

Patent:

Nanoparticles, Methods for Producing Nanoparticles and Nanoparticle Generators. J.W. Grate, N.D. Browning, P. Abellan, U.S. patent number 10500228 filed in 26/04/2017, published in 10/12/2019

CNRS Research Fellow

CNRS Research Director

Functions :

• CNRS Research Director in section 08 (former section)
• Oct. 2019 – Assistant to the Scientific Director (ADSR), Limousin-Poitou and La Rochelle sites
• Oct. 1988 Recruited as CR2 CNRS Ecole Centrale de Lyon

Qualifications :

• 2008 Habilitation à Diriger les Recherches – University of Nantes (January 20, 2008): “Thin Film Materials by Plasma Processes”.
• 1989 Doctorate Montpellier University – Materials Science (April 13, 1989)
• 1985 ENSCM Engineer (Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Montpellier) (June 1985) – Materials Chemistry option and DEA in Materials Science
• 1983 Master’s degree in Chemistry – Nantes University

Expertises :

• Plasma-assisted thin-film materials (PEPVD, PECVD),
• Process-material correlations,
• Dielectric materials, binary, ternary and quaternary oxides, chalcogenides, nitrides, oxynitrides,
• Interfaces, Devices for Microelectronics, Energy, Photocatalysis,
• Structural and physico-chemical characterization (XPS, AFM)

Main research themes:

When I joined the CNRS (1988), my project was to optimize the SiO2/InP interface, so I developed (1988-1996) the Passivation of III-V materials: surface treatments, oxidation and nitridation by plasma, then deposition of dielectrics (SiO2 and SiNx) by cold plasma PECVD-ECR processes (1988-2000). In parallel (2000-2003), I set up an ICP etching reactor to etch element III nitrides (III-N) using chlorine chemistry.

AlN for thermal management: initiated in 2005 with M.A. Djouadi (IMN) as part of a CIFRE thesis with Thales III-V Lab (S. Delage, C. Brylinski), the aim was to produce thin layers of AlN, a good thermal conductor for microwave power transistors, GaN-based piezoelectric HEMTs (GaN HEMTs), to ensure thermal management and primary passivation (diffusion barrier and evacuation of heat generated during operation). In the course of two theses (C. Duquenne-2008 (CIFRE Thales); B. Abdallah-2009 (Syrian government)), AlN deposition and thermal properties were optimized. In collaboration with CRHEA (Sophia Antipolis), AlN epitaxy on AlGaN and AlN has been demonstrated (MBE-CRHEA substrates). (2005-2012)

Complex oxides by Magnetron spraying. This theme was initiated before my arrival by P.Y. Tessier and L. Brohan during M-W CHU’s PhD thesis (2002). As soon as I moved to Nantes (2003-2008), I set up a dedicated reactor (2003) and pursued the project until 2008. The results obtained confirmed the relevance of magnetron sputtering for the deposition of ternary and quaternary materials, particularly compared with laser ablation (PLD), which limits deposition surfaces to cm2. This formed the basis for subsequent studies on other materials, within the framework of two application- and industry-oriented theses (Emeline Souchier (BDI CNRS-ST Microelectronics, 2006-2010): study of the deposition of GaV4S8 material in collaboration with PCM/PMN and Fatiha Challali, (2007-2010) (CIFRE MHS Thesis): study of the deposition of high dielectric constant (BST, TiTaO) and high resistance (TiON) oxides. These studies were the first to focus on Mott insulators. (2003-2011)

Mott insulators are materials with exceptional properties, and their thin-film production has opened the way to numerous applications. A new type of electronics, called “Mottronics”, enables the production of integrated Mott memories in the form of thin films for information storage (IPCEI project), or the manufacture of energy-saving neural networks and synapses for artificial intelligence (Mott-IA regional project). (2005-2025)

Materials for energy is a new focus for the PCM (Plasma Couches Minces) team in collaboration with ST2E (Stockage et Transformation Electrochimique de l’Energie) in the field of energy micro-storage. In particular, the aim is to bring the versatility of plasma-assisted processes to the development of materials for micro-supercapacitors and micro-batteries. (2021 -2027)

Current research projects

• 2023-2027 ANR NACELL: IMN Scientific Resp., Post-doc 12 months, € 118 K
• 2023-2027 European IPCEI contract with ST-Microelectronics (PMN sponsor)
• 2022-2027 Mott-IA regional project (€2.5 M) Porteut L. Cario (PMN)
• 2024-2028 ANR ADN, Porteur C. Villeneuve (LAPLACE)

Activities in the research community :

• 2024-2025 Co-leader of “Materials” WG, 2nd Microelectronics Survey for DRE CNRS
• 2018-2019 Co-leader of the “Materials” WG, Microelectronics Initiative for INSIS-CNRS
• 2016-2023 Member appointed to the CNRS National Committee, section 08: 2016-2021 and 2021-June 2023
• 2016-2022 Director of GDR 3660 OXYFUN, Board member (January 2014-July 2016)
• 2015-2019 CNRS representative on the INSA Centre Val de Loire Board of Directors
• 2005- 2013 Board member of C’Nano Nord-Ouest, correspondent for the Pays de la Loire region
• 2005- 2013 IMN Valorisation Correspondent at DR17-CNRS
• 2016-2025 Member of 23 Selection Committees (COS)
• 2008-2025 Participation in 100 thesis (86) and HDR (14) juries, including 60 reports

Expertise :

• 2017 – 2024 : Member of HCERES Evaluation Committees : LPICM (Palaiseau) ; XLIM (Limoges) ;
• GREMAN (Tours); CRHEA, Nice; UDSMM (UCLO), GEMaC (UVSQ), GeePs (Paris Saclay)
• 2018 – 2025: ANR projects for CES 08, CES 09, CE24, ANR ASTRID, CE05 (13 Projects)
• 2015 – 2017: Pre-project evaluation (78 projects) and ANR CEP member (CES 09) Challenge 3 (30 projects)
• 2009 -2014: Member of the ANR P3N then P2N Evaluation Committee: 2009, 2010, 2011,
• ANR Blanc SIMI 4 Evaluation Committee (2013), 2 AERES committees (section 08 CNRS, 2014)
• 2010 – 2014, 2018: Mid-term reviews of ANR projects (30 projects) and Expertise on 18 ANR projects
• Other expertise: DFG Elan (Germany); Fonds Collège-Industrie Québec (Canada); 2015: Nano IDF and IDEX project for Université Strasbourg; 2016: INSA Lyon BQR project; 2019 : Univ. Lyon and Marseille; 2018-2019 : CEFIPRA projects (France-India collaboration);

Biography:

In all my activities, I’m concerned with teamwork, interdisciplinarity and a certain taste for risk. Materials physical chemist and CNRS Research Director at the Jean Rouxel Nantes Institute of Materials (IMN): after a master’s degree in chemistry in Nantes, an engineering diploma from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Montpellier (ENSCM) and a doctorate in Materials Science in Montpellier, I joined the CNRS in 1988 at the Ecole Centrale de Lyon in the LPCI then LEAME (now LEOM, then INL) laboratory. In charge of a PECVD-ECR deposition reactor, I developed passivation processes for III-V semiconductors and thin-film deposition of dielectric materials for microelectronics. I moved to Nantes in 2003, and in 2008 obtained a “Habilitation à diriger des recherches” (“From functional material to device”), and developed reactive magnetron sputtering deposition processes for numerous new materials to produce devices for several fields (Microelectronics, Energy, Photocatalysis). For over 20 years, within the Mott insulator development group, and more broadly within the PCM team, I have been contributing my experience in the field of thin-film materials. The work of the Mottronics group (PMN/PCM) on Mott insulators with exceptional properties was rewarded by the Félix Robin 2023 prize, awarded by the French Physical Society to the group of five permanent staff involved during the JMC 2024 in Marseille.

Teaching :

• 2008-2018: Co-leader of the “Thin Films: Elaboration, Characterization and Applications” module (20h), Master NanoSciences Nord-Ouest, with M. Guilloux-Viry (ISCR Rennes).
• 2018-2023: Lecture (2h30/year) in Master 1, ITI MPP, IUT de Nantes
• 2023, 2024: Intervention ”New materials and applications” Summer School, Beijing Institut of Technology (BIT) Physics Department, Beijing, China (~30h of classes).
• 2025: lectures in Beijing and Zuhai (new university in southern China) (2 x 25 h of lectures)

• Distinction

2023: Félix Robin prize from the French Physical Society

Publications :

May 2025: 94 publications, 5 patents (including 2012, 2014), over 140 oral presentations (52 as speaker); 15 invited lectures (speaker) at international conferences, over 250 conference presentations.

Major illustrative publications:

Michael Rodriguez-Fano, Mohamad Haydoura, Julien Tranchant*, Etienne Janod, Benoît Corraze, Pierre-Yves Jouan, Laurent Cario and Marie-Paule Besland*, Enhancing the resistive memory window through band gap tuning in the solid solution (Cr1-xVx)2O3, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 15, 54611-54621 (2023).

M. Mitronika, C. Villeneuve-Faure*, F. Massol, L. Boudou, W. Ravisy, M.P. Besland, A. Goullet, M. Richard-Plouet, TiO2-SiO2 mixed oxide deposited by low pressure PECVD: insights on optical and nanoscale electrical properties, Applied Surface Sciences, 541 (2021) 148510.

F. Challali*, D. Mendil, T. Touam, T. Chauveau, … M.-P. Besland; Effect of RF sputtering power and vacuum annealing on the properties of AZO thin films prepared from ceramic target in confocal configuration, Mat. Sci. Semicond. Proc. 118, 105217, 2020.

E. Janod*, J. Tranchant, B. Corraze, M. Querré, P. Stoliar, M. Rozenberg, T. Cren, D. Roditchev, V. Ta Phuoc, M. P. Besland and L. Cario; Resistive switching in Mott insulators and correlated systems (Invited Review) Advanced Functional Materials, 25 (40) SI, 6287-6305 (2015)
(DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201500823)

Han Jun-Feng*, Liao Cheng, Cha Limei, Jiang Tao, Xie Hua-Mu, Zhao Kui, M.-P. Besland*, TEM and XPS studies of CdS/CIGS interfaces, Journal of Physics & Chemistry of Solids 75 (2014) 1279-1283.

J. Tranchant*, A. Pellaroque, E. Janod, B. Angleraud, B. Corraze, L. Cario, M.-P. Besland*, Deposition of GaV4S8 thin films by H2S/Ar reactive sputtering for RRAM applications, Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics 47 (6), 065309 (2014).

A. Rouahi*, A. Kahouli, F. Challali, M.-P. Besland, C. Vallée, B. Yangui, S. Salimy, A. Goullet, A Sylvestre*, Impedance and electrical modulus study of amorphous TiTaO thin films: Highlight of the interphase effect, J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 46 065308 (2013) (doi:10.1088/0022-3727/46/6/065308)

C. Duquenne, M. P. Besland*, P.Y. Tessier, E. Gautron, D. Averty, Y. Scudeller, Thermal Conductivity of Aluminum Nitride Thin Films prepared by Reactive Magnetron Sputtering, J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 45, 015301 (2012).

E. Al Alam, I. Cortes, M.-P. Besland*, A. Goullet, L. Lajaunie, P. Regreny (INL), Y. Cordier, J. Brault (CRHEA), A. Cazarre, K. Isoird, G. Sarrabayrousse, F. Morancho (LAAS), Effect of surface preparation and interfacial layer on the quality of SiO2/GaN interfaces; J. Appl. Phys., 109, 084511 (2011).

M. Lapeyrade, M.P. Besland*, C. Meva’a, A. Sibai (LPM-INSA-Lyon), G. Hollinger (LEOM-ECL), Silicon nitride thin films deposited by Electron Cyclotron Resonance Plasma, J. Vac. Sci. Technol A 17(2), 433-444 (1999).

M.P. Besland*, S. Jourba, M. Lambrinos, P. Louis, P. Viktorovitch, G. Hollinger (LEAME-ECL), Optimized SiO2/InP structures prepared by Electron Cyclotron Resonance Plasma, J. Appl. Phys. 80, 3100, (1996).

G. Hollinger*, D. Gallet, M. Gendry (LEAME-ECL), M.P. Besland, J. Joseph (LPCI), Evidence for a new passivating indium rich phosphate prepared by ultraviolet/ozone oxidation of InP, Appl. Phys. Lett. 59, 1617, (1991).

M.P. Besland*, C. Guizard, N. Hovnanian, A. Larbot, L. Cot (LPCM-ENSCM-Montpellier), J. Sanz, I. Sobrados, M. Gregorkiewitz, (CSIC-Institute of Materials-Madrid), Silicon and carbon liquid and solid MAS NMR spectroscopies study of the polycondensation of Heteropolysiloxanes, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 113, 1982-1987, (1991)

Brevets

5 unexploited (1990, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2014); Two unsuccessful invention declarations (2008, 2010)

Link to publi HAL: https://cnrs.hal.science/search/index/?q=authFullName_t%3Abesland&rows=30&sort=publicationDate_tdate+desc

Link to orcid :ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2680-2402

Link to scholar.google.fr: https://scholar.google.fr/citations?user=Ne_tI1wAAAAJ&hl=fr

LinkedIn link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marie-paule-besland-20b880108/

CNRS Research Director

Current functions – Currently

• Director of IMN
• CNRS senior researcher DR2 (Section15 – Chemistry of materials, nanomaterials and processes)
• Researcher within the ST2E group “Electrochemical storage and conversion of energy (ST2E)” at the Institute of Materials Jean Rouxel – Nantes (IMN

Qualifications

• 2007: “Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches” from Nantes University
• 1990-93: PhD thesis, Nantes University “Study of the anharmonic behavior of d10 ions (Ag+, Cd2+, Zn2+) in ternary and quaternary chalcogenides.”

Thèmes de recherche – Research themes

• DFT modeling and simulation of various spectroscopies: NMR, EELS, XAS
• Electronic Structure calculations applied to battery materials

Animation de la recherche – Research Community Activities

Scientific committee member of GDR REST (2015-2018)

Publications

As of 01/2018

• 90 publications in international peer-reviewed journals (H-Factor: 27 – source Google Scholar)
• 10 invited talks at national/international conferences, 8(co)organisation of conferences

Links

ResearcherID: http://www.researcherid.com/rid/G-7408-2012
Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Florent_Boucher
Google Scholar: https: //scholar.google.fr/citations?user=eNSComAAAAAJ&hl

CNRS Research Associate

Functions :

CNRS Researcher

Qualifications :

PhD, HDR

Expertises :

• computational materials chemistry,
• crystal structure prediction,
• digital thermodynamics,
• calculation guaranteed,
• IA,
• electronic structure calculations (DFT),
• statistical physics tools (Monte Carlo, Molecular Dynamics)

Main research themes:

• Prediction of crystal structures of new materials (CSP)
• Development of guaranteed phase diagram calculation software (CALIPH): coll. A. Goldsztejn, C. Jermann, T. Gouhier, LS2N Nantes

Current research projects :

• Prediction of crystal structures to support experimental chemists: (oxy)sulfides, nitrides, chlorides, (oxy)chalcogenides
• Thermodynamic description of competing mechanisms in topochemical reactions
• Research and characterization of new materials for anti-corrosion coatings in collaboration with Safran
• Development of structure-phase diagram databases for chlorinated materials used in molten-salt reactors
• CALIPH software development (OPEN funding – CNRS Innovation)

Teaching :

• Module AI for materials discovery and design (EMat Graduate Program, Nantes Université): responsible + teaching hours
• Quantum chemistry and chemical bonding (Polytech’Nantes, Nantes Université)
• Diffusion of matter (Polytech’Nantes, Nantes University)

Patents :

1 APP application, 1 patentability study in progress

Link to publi HAL: https://cv.hal.science/isabelle-braems
Link to Orcid: 0000-0003-2374-4259
Link to Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Isabelle-Braems?ev=hdr_xprf)
Link to dedicated pages: 1 CSP, CALIPH= https://saas.ls2n.fr/caliph/

CNRS Research Associate

CNRS Research Associate

CNRS Research Director

Function:

CNRS researcher

Expertises :

• Low-pressure cold plasma etching of materials.
• Plasma diagnostics (optical emission spectrometry, mass spectrometry, electrostatic probes).
• Surface characterization (XPS, ellipsometry).

Main research themes:

• Low-pressure rf plasma processes and study of plasma-surface interaction mechanisms for materials etching and treatment.
• Etching V2O3
• Plasma-surface interaction mechanisms at low temperatures

Current research projects :

ANR project 20-CE24-0014-02 PSICryo “Understanding plasma-surface interactions in cryogenic etching for advanced patterning applications”, involving LTM-Grenoble (leader), GREMI-Orléans and IMN-Nantes. For IMN, the aim is to study the surface mechanisms (chemisorption vs. physisorption) involved in cryogenic etching processes, particularly with a view to controlled atomic layer etching (ALE).

https://anr.fr/Projet-ANR-20-CE24-0014

Biography:

After university studies and a thesis on the structural characterization of SiGe:H and Si:H,Cl amorphous semiconductors by X-ray and electron spectroscopy, I joined the CNRS to work on the characterization of cold plasma-treated surfaces and thin-film materials (1985-1988). My interests then extended to the study of plasma processes for etching semiconductor, dielectric or metallic materials (1988-present).

I was interested in and trained in the physics of radio-frequency excited discharges in gases at low pressure (~1 Pa) and their diagnostics. This led me to develop expertise in the etching of materials for microelectronics: Si, SiO2, low-κ organosilicides, silica glasses and W in fluorinated plasma (SF6, CHF3, C2F6), and in the etching of materials for photonics: InP and CdHgTe in CH4-H2 plasma and derivatives, chalcogenide glasses in fluorinated and CH4-H2 plasmas. This has also led me to develop expertise in the physical and chemical characterization of plasmas using mass spectrometry, optical emission spectrometry and electrostatic probes, as well as in the characterization of surfaces and interfaces using photoelectron spectrometry, ellipsometry and near-field microscopy.

My current research concerns the etching of vanadium oxide V2O3 and the fundamental mechanisms of etching and plasma and gas interaction with the surface at cryogenic temperature.

Publications :

122

Major illustrative publications:

Review articles
Ch. Cardinaud, M-C. Peignon, P.Y. Tessier “Plasma etching: principles, mechanisms, application to micro- and nanotechnologies” Appl. Surf. Sci. 164, 72-83 2000.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0169-4332(00)00328-7

C. Cardinaud “Fluorine-based plasmas: Main features and application in micro-and nanotechnology and in surface treatment” Comptes Rendus Chimie de l’Académie des Sciences 21, 723-739 2018.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crci.2018.01.009

Articles on plasma etching mechanisms, plasma diagnostics, plasma-surface interaction
Ch. Cardinaud, A. Rhounna, G. Turban, B. Grolleau “Contamination of silicon surfaces exposed to CHF3 plasmas: An XPS study of the film-surface interface” J. Electrochem. Soc. 135, 1472-1477, 1988. http://dx.doi.org/10.1149/1.2096034

Ch. Cardinaud, G. Turban “Mechanistic studies of the initial stages of etching of Si and SiO2 in a CHF3 plasma” Appl. Surf. Sci. 45, 109-120, 1990.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0169-4332(90)90061-4

M-C. Peignon, Ch. Cardinaud, G. Turban “A kinetic study of reactive ion etching of tungsten in SF6 – O2 RF plasmas” J. Electrochem. Soc. 140, 505-512, 1993.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1149/1.2221077

Y. Feurprier, Ch. Cardinaud, G. Turban “Influence of the gas mixture on the reactive ion etching of InP in CH4 – H2 plasmas” J. Vacuum Sci. & Technol. B 15, 1733-1740 1997.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1116/1.589363

F. Gaboriau, G. Cartry, M-C. Peignon, Ch. Cardinaud “Selective and deep plasma etching of SiO2: comparison between different fluorocarbon gases (CF4, C2F6, CHF3) mixed with CH4 or H2 and influence of residence time” J. Vacuum Sci. & Technol. B 20, 1514-1521 2002.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1116/1.1495502

S. Bouchoule, R. Chanson, A. Pageau, E. Cambril, S. Guilet, A. Rhallabi, C. Cardinaud “Surface chemistry of InP ridge structures etched in Cl2-based plasma analysed with angular XPS” J. Vacuum Sci. & Technol. A 33, 05E124 2015.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1116/1.4927541

J. Piet, W. Faider, A. Girard, F. Boulard and C. Cardinaud “Investigation of organic precursors and plasma mixtures allowing control of carbon passivation when etching HgCdTe in hydrocarbon-based inductively coupled plasmas” J. Vacuum Sci. & Technol. A 38, 053005 2020. https://doi.org/10.1116/6.0000397

T. Meyer, A. Girard, G. Le Dain, A. Rhallabi, E. Baudet, M. Baillieul, V. Nazabal, P. Němec and C. Cardinaud “Mass spectrometry and in situ X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy investigations of organometallic species induced by the etching of germanium, antimony and selenium in a methane-based plasma” Plasma Sources Sci. & Technol. 32 (2023) 085003.
https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6595/aceaa5

Articles related to expertise in XPS analysis – external collaborations
K. Tsougeni, N. Vourdas, A. Tserepi, E. Gogolides, C. Cardinaud “Mechanisms of Oxygen Plasma Nanotexturing of Organic Polymer Surfaces: From Stable Super Hydrophilic to Super Hydrophobic Surfaces” Langmuir 25, 11748-11759 2009.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/la901072z

E. Baudet, C. Cardinaud, A. Girard, E. Rinnert, K. Michel, B. Bureau, V. Nazabal “Structural analysis of RF sputtered Ge-Sb-Se thin films by Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies” J. Non-Cryst. Solids 444, 64-72 2016.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2016.04.017

Link to publi HAL: https://hal.science/search/index?q=cardinaud+christophe

Link to orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9753-8848

Other links :

• Société Française du Vide
• Cold Plasma Network
• Cold plasma training in France

CNRS Research Director

Function:

Research Director DR 1

• Coordinator of the Mott-IA maturation project on artificial Neural Networks
• Laureate of the RISE 2024 program for the creation of the startup Mottronix.
• Member of the International Research Laboratory (IRL) DYNACOM

Former positions:
2018 – 2023 Team Leader Physique des Matériaux et Nanostructures (PMN)
2015 – 2018 Co-director of the team Physique des Matériaux et Nanostructures (PMN)
2000 – 2021 Associate researcher and then Director of Research DR2 Institut des Matériaux de Nantes Jean Rouxel

Education:

• 2011 Habilitation à diriger des recherches (higher PhD) Faculty of sciences / Nantes University
• 1998 – 2000 Associate Researcher – Cornell University (USA). Advisor : Franck J. Disalvo
• 1995 – 1998 PhD in material sciences – Nantes University
  Advisors : Alain Meerschaut /Jean Rouxel (Institut des Matériaux Jean Rouxel)

Research themes:

• Solid State chemistry and physics.
• Resistive switching in chalcogenide and oxide Mott Insulators. Application for non-volatile memories (RRAM/ Memristors) or as new neuromorphic components.
• Topochemical synthesis of new (oxy-)chalcogenide compounds.

Awards:

• 2023 Scientific grand prize of the french physical society (SFP)
• 2012, 17 and 23 CNRS Award of scientific excellence
• 1998 LAVOISIER scholarship from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Scientific production:
175 Publications, 2 book chapters, 65 invited conferences, 6 patents

Gustave Eiffel Research Director

CNRS Research Director

Functions :

CNRS Research Director (Section 17)

Expertise :

• Organic-inorganic hybrid materials
• Coordination chemistry
• Energy storage
• Porous materials
• In situ studies
• Crystal chemistry
• Structure-property relationships

Main research themes:

• Synthesis of new functional MOFs
• New electroactive materials
• Binders and coordination coatings for battery electrodes
• Hybrid materials and thermal energy storage.

Current research projects:

As coordinator :

ANR PRC CE05, 2024-2027. Thermal management of metal organic framework materials (TEM-MOF). Partners: LTeN (X. Py), ICMN (B. Cagnon).

As partner manager :

• ANR PRC CE50, 2022-2026. Catalytic sorbent bed for improved production of methanol (SIMPA). Coordinator A.C- Roger (ICPEES); partners IMN (T. Devic), CP2M (P. Fongarland), ICGM (P. Trens).
• ANR PRC CE08, 2025-2029. Novel MOFs for singlet oxygen generation storage and delivery (MOFSONG). Coordinator A. Fateeva (LMI); partners IMN (T. Devic), CEISAM (V. Coeffard), CRMN (G. Pintacuda), LRGP (C. Frochot).

As a participant :

IMN-Blue solutions joint laboratory (IMNBlue), 2023-2027. New-generation all-solid batteries.

Biography:

Thomas Devic obtained his PhD in 2003 from the University of Angers. After a postdoctoral stay at Cornell University, USA, under the supervision of Stephen Lee, he was recruited to the CNRS at the Institut Lavoisier in Versailles, France, in 2004, within the “Porous Solids” research group headed by Gérard Férey. In 2016, he joined the Institut des Matériaux Jean Rouxel, in Nantes, France, where he is currently CNRS Research Director. His research focuses mainly on organic-inorganic hybrid materials, with a particular emphasis on synthesis and structural characterization. He is interested in the development of new hybrid compounds (salts, complexes and coordination polymers, MOFs), in particular based on non-trivial organic building blocks, the use of high-throughput tools to achieve this, their in-depth structural characterization using various analytical techniques (XRD, NMR, infrared…) and their applications in various fields, such as gas capture and electrochemical and thermal energy storage. He has supervised more than 20 doctoral and post-doctoral students, and participates in various academic and industrial collaborative projects.

Teaching:

Courses and practical work on porous coordination polymers, Master’s level (Nantes University)

Publications :

Number of publications: 155

Illustrative major publications:

A Fe-thiolate layered metal organic framework as a high-performance electrode material for potassium-ion batteries. L.H.B. Nguyen, P. Salcedo-Abraira, D. Le Thanh, N. Gedikoglu, N. Guillou, R. Coatleven, P. Poizot, F. Salles, N. Louvain, L. Stievano, T. Devic, Chem. Commun. 2025, 61, 9614 – 9617.

Expanding the horizons of porphyrin metal-organic frameworks via catecholate coordination: exploring structural diversity, materials stability and redox properties. S. De, G. Mouchaham, F. Liu, M. Affram, B. Abeykoon, N. Guillou, E. Jeanneau, J.-M. Grenèche, L. Khrouz, C. Martineau-Corcos, L. Boudjema, F. Salles, P. Salcedo-Abraira, G. Valente, M. Souto, A. Fateeva, T. Devic, J. Mater. Chem. A 2023, 11, 25465-25483.

Is there any benefit of coating Si particles for negative electrode material for Li-ion batteries with a MOF? The case of Al fumarate. N. Kana, K. Touidjine, S. Olivier-Archambaud, E. Gkaniatsou, M. Paris, N. Dupré, N. Gautier, P. Moreau, C. Sicard, B. Lestriez, T. Devic, ACS Applied Energy Mater. 2023, 6, 9218-9230.

Coordinatively cross-linked binders for silicon-based electrodes for Li-ion batteries: beneficial impact on mechanical properties and electrochemical performance. L. Huet, D. Mazouzi, P. Moreau, N. Dupré, M. Paris, S. Mittelette, D. Laurencin, T. Devic, L. Roué, B. Lestriez, ACS Applied Mater. Interfaces 2023, 15, 15509-15524.

Deciphering the thermal and electrochemical behaviors of dual redox-active iron croconate violet coordination complexes. M. Denis, J.-M. Grenèche, N. Gautier, P. Poizot, T. Devic, Inorg. Chem. 2022, 61, 9308-9317.

Silicon Electrodes for Li-ion Batteries. Addressing the Challenges through Coordination Chemistry. T. Devic, B. Lestriez, L. Roué, ACS Energy Lett. 2019, 4, 550-557.

Number of patents: 4

Link to publi HAL: https://hal.science/search/index?q=thomas+devic

Link to orcid: https://orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0000-0001-7074-6498

CNRS Research Fellow

CNRS Research Director

Functions:

• Research Director, PMN team co-leader
• CNRS Research Director
• Joint Group head of the PMN Group
• Visiting Professor, Toyo University, Japan
• Editor Journal “Carbon

Qualifications:

• PhD Computational Physics, Exeter University (1997)
• Habilitation to direct research, Nantes University (2011)

Expertise:

Carbon Science, DFT Modelling, Defects, Materials Physics and Chemistry, Science Communication

Major research topics:

• Dislocations and point defects in graphite and 2D carbon materials
• Fullerene Science (formation, functionalisation, supramolecular structure formation)
• Nanodiamond Modelling
• Functionalisation and topology of novel nanomaterials
• Science Communication tools and techniques (virtual, physical)

Biography:

Chris Ewels graduated from Oxford University in 1993 in “Metallurgy and the Science of Materials”. After a Ph.D. in 1997 from the University of Exeter UK, for computational studies of oxygen defects in silicon, he moved to Sussex University where he worked on radiation induced defects in graphite and carbon nanosystems. At Sussex he joined the Vega Science Trust with Sir Harry Kroto, where he created an online science TV channel and developed a passion for public communication of science. In Paris he worked at the national aerospace research facilities ONERA, and was then a Marie Curie Individual Research Fellow at the Université Paris Sud within the electron microscopy group of Professor Christian Colliex. In 2006 he received the European Marie Curie Excellence Award and in the same year joined the CNRS at the Institute of Materials in Nantes, becoming Directeur de Recherche in 2015. His work focuses on computer modelling of nanoscale carbons in close collaboration with experimental colleagues. He has authored over 200 journal publications including nine book chapters, and is on the Stanford University list top 2% most cited active scientists. His interest in science communication continues, with Web videos he has commissioned and produced now viewed over 1.5 million times. He is now joint head of the Physics of Materials and Nanostructures group at the IMN, coordinating nanocarbon initiatives at the local, regional, national and European level.

Research projects:

“Current Research Projects (2026)

• Participant ANR CADENA (“Fluorinated nanodiamonds for catalysis”)
• Coordinator ANR DISLOCARBON (“Dislocations in layered carbon nanomaterials”)
• Core-Group Committee, COST Nanospace (“Carbon molecular nanostructures in space”)
• Regional Project LUMOMAT “RunningRings
• Regional Project “Trajectoire Nationale

Teaching:

• M2 E-MAT “Nanocarbon and 2D Materials
• M2 E-MAT “Machine Learning Approaches

Distinction:

• European Carbon Association (ECA) Award (2025)
• British Carbon Group Ubbelohde Award Lecture for Carbon Science (2014)
• European Union Marie Curie Excellence Award (2006)
• Fonds International Wernaers award for knowledge dissemination (2008)
• CineGlobe Public Award for best science documentary (2010)

Publications:

• 1. ‘CO adsorption on pure, defective and mixed composition AlF3 and MgF2 surfaces’
  A. Impellizzeri, J. Dieu, J. Rousseau, S. Brunet, C. P. Ewels*
  Catal. Sci. Technol. 14, 3021-3028 (2024)
• 2 ‘Electronic States of Carbon Materials’
  S. Latil, C. Ewels* (1st Edition: P. Lambin, J. Fink)
  Encyclopedia of Condensed Matter Physics, 2nd Edition, Elsevier, Vol. 5, 702-715 (2024)
• 3. ‘Noncontact Layer Stabilization of Azafullerene Radicals: Route toward High-Spin-Density Surfaces’
  Y. Tanuma, G. Kladnik, L. Schio, M. van Midden Mavrič, B. Anezo, E. Zupanic, G. Bavdek, R. Canton-Vitoria, L. Floreano, N. Tagmatarchis, H. A. Wegner, A. Morgante, C. P. Ewels*, D. Cvetko*, D. Arčon*, ACS Nano 17, 24, 25301-25310 (2023)
• 4. ‘Prismatic Edge Dislocations in Graphite’
  J. G. McHugh*, P. Mouratidis, A. Impellizzeri, K. Jolley, D. Erbahar, C. P. Ewels*
  Carbon, 188, 401-419 (2022)
• 5. Direct Observation and Catalytic Role of Mediator Atom in 2D Materials’
  G.-D. Lee*, A. W. Robertson*, S. Lee, Y.-C. Lin, J.-W. Oh, H. Park, Y.-C. Joo, E. Yoon, K. Suenaga, J. H. Warner, C. P. Ewels*, Science Advances, 6 (24), eaba4942 (2020)

Link HAL

Link orcid: 0000-0001-5530-9601

Link to scholar.google.fr

https://ewels.info/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ewels/

Contact us:

Dr Chris Ewels
Institut des Matériaux de Nantes Jean Rouxel (IMN)
2 Chemin de la Houssinière
44322 Nantes
FRANCE
+33-240 37 64 07
chris.ewels \ cnrs-imn.fr

CNRS Research Director

CNRS Research Fellow

Current functions Currently:

Since 2013: CNRS Research Scientist

Functions precedents / Before:

• 2010-2013: Postdoctoral Fellow / Northwestern University (USA)
• 2007-2010: PhD / University of Rennes (France)

Ressources en ligne – Online resources:

• ResearcherID : E-2532-2012
• ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Romain_Gautier2
• Google Scholar : https://scholar.google.fr/citations?user=BiIoyN0AAAAJ&hl=en

Research Director

Functions :

CNRS Research Director (DR1) at IMN (80%) and “Plasmas” Scientific Delegate at CNRS Ingénierie (20%)

Expertise :

Low-pressure cold plasma processes, PECVD thin film deposition from organometallic precursors, plasma diagnostics (OES, Langmuir probe, mass spectrometry).

Main research themes :

• deposition of thin films with dielectric, optical, photocatalytic and barrier properties (SiO2, SiOCH, TiO2) by plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition (PECVD)
• deposition of multifunctional nanocomposite thin films by low-pressure plasma injection of colloidal solutions (TiO2:SiO2, ZnO:SiO2, etc.).
• study of plasma/surface interaction mechanisms
• global study of plasma processes for nanomaterial synthesis and thin-film deposition

Current research projects :

• Hybrid mist plasma deposition of nanocomposite thin films: injection of a colloidal solution into a low-pressure plasma.
• Nanocomposite thin films of iron oxide nanoparticles in a TiO2 matrix (in collaboration with UdM, Montreal)
• Nanocomposite thin films of TiO2 nanoparticles in a SiO2 matrix, dielectric properties (ANR ADN project, 2025-2028)

Activities in the research community :

• Member of the Board of Directors, Société Française du Vide
• Member of the Plasmas Froids network and GDR EMILI

Biography

• 2013-2021 : Deputy Director of IMN
• 2017-2020: Member of the CE08 Evaluation Committee of the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)
• 2012-2016: Appointed member of the Comité National de la Recherche Scientifique, section10
• 2005-2012: Head of the Plasmas and Thin Films team at IMN (25-30 people)
• 2012-2015: Member of the Board of the Ecole Doctorale 3MPL (Molecules, Matter and Materials in Pays de Loire)
• 2008-2011: Member of the ANR non-thematic evaluation committee (CSD2 then SIMI9)
• 2004-2006: Coordinator of the Cold Plasma Network of the MRCT (CNRS) (400 members)
• 2001-2003: Project manager at the CNRS SPI (Sciences pour l’Ingénieur) Department
• 1998-2005: Head of the PECVD team at IMN’s Plasma Thin Film Laboratory
• 1994-1997: Director of the GDR “Processes for depositing thin films usingorganosilicon plasmas“.
• 1986-1992: Research Associate (CR2 from 1986 to 1990, then CR1) at the Gas and Plasma Physics Laboratory (Orsay)

CNRS Research Director

CNRS Research Director