This work focuses on the synthesis of powders, crystals and thin layers of quantum materials. From a fundamental point of view, shaping affects the response to stimuli and the properties observed. Our mastery of the various synthetic routes thus broadens the possible field of investigation of physical properties. In addition, we also develop thin films to go towards the realization of devices. Our expertise focuses on the synthesis of a particular class of quantum materials, the chalcogenides and oxides of transition metals. This expertise is employed in a national and international collaborative network. In addition, we are carrying out exploratory synthesis of new compounds in collaboration with the chalcogenide axis.

To go further : [TaS₂], [GaV₄S₈], [V₂O₃], [Misfit]

Our research work focuses on a large class of strongly correlated materials, the Mott insulators. We are particularly interested in the properties emerging in these materials when they are brought out of equilibrium, for example via an ultra-fast electrical or light pulse. Such excitations can indeed induce out-of-equilibrium phase transitions, involving both a strong electronic response (insulator to metal transition), but also a lattice response (volume variation). One of the intriguing aspects is that these out-of-equilibrium transitions may only be transient by relaxing after a few nanoseconds, but can also be permanent by locking the material into a new metastable state potentially inaccessible at thermodynamic equilibrium.
In this context, our work aims to understand the mechanisms of hot electron creation, the dynamics of the insulator to metal transition and the associated elastic effects.

To go further : [Mott]

During the last decades physicists have been studying Mott insulators for their exceptional physical properties. Mott insulators can become conductors under high pressure or by chemical doping, two parameters which are difficult to reconcile with the technological constraints of microelectronics. But pioneering work at IMN has shown that the application of voltage pulses can make them conductive and thus pave the way for new electronics called Mottronics. Our work carried out within the framework of several maturation projects (SATT, Region Pays de la Loire, IPCEI) has already enabled the production of 1T-1R mott memories integrated on 8' wafers for information storage (CEA Leti collaboration) or artificial neurons for bioinspired computing. A significant part of our work in the coming years will therefore aim to create energy efficient artificial hardware neural networks with synapses and neurons based on Mott insulator.

To go further : [Lettre CNRS], [Ouest France]