Our Surfaces and Interfaces laboratory is internationally known in the synthesis and development of organic and organic-inorganic hybrid materials. Our knowledge allows going from the molecular conception toward the construction of surface with specific properties in different fields: NanoTech, SmartTech, BioTech.
This field concerns surfaces presenting micro and/or nano scales of structuration. These materials exhibit special wettability such as (super)hydrophilicity/(super)hydrophobicity and (super)oleophilicity/(super)oleophobicity. The works, that we have performed since 2003-2004, has placed us at the second world rank and at the first place in Europe in the superoleophobicity, and among the first in the superhydrophobicity.
Worldwide classification of laboratory about superoleophobicity
 | In this field, our interest is focused on two main topics. The first one concerns the development of biobased alkyd resins non-oxidative and environmental-friendly drying mechanism as an alternative of Cobalt Salt. For his work, Matthieu Sonnati was awarded by the MIT Technology Review as 2012 innovators under 35 in France. This work was related to his innovative non-oxidative and environmental friendly drying mechanism of polymers used in the paints and coatings industry. The second topic concerns the development of biological materials as bioadhesive/anti-bioadhesive surfaces and topical skin protectants. |
This field concerns the development of stimuli-responsive materials (thermochromic, pH sensible...). These materials are interactive, autonomous and able to modify their intrinsic properties from an external stimulus, such as liquid crystals, sensors or UV responsible materials. Recently, two patents have been registered on bioactive polymer-nanoparticles network. |  |
Our skills and expertise
In order to carry out its scientific missions, this research laboratory has specific skills and equipments facilities. Our group has been collaborating since a lot of years with many international Universities and Industries in the following domains:
- fluorine chemistry, notably of highly fluorinated tails and their alternatives
- resins and additives for biobased coatings from green renewable raw materials
- molecular organized systems
- liquid crystals
- self-assembled monolayers
- polymers
- superhydrophobic and superoleophobic surfaces
- biocides/hyperbiocides materials
- polymeric and nanoparticles network
Our scientific success arises from the quality and reliability expertise and from our capability:
- to activate and to functionalize surfaces
- to carried out electrodeposition and / or electro-polymerisation
- to graft and to polymerize in situ
- to measure surface characteristics such as:
- the functions from infra red (FT – IR) measurements in direct mode or from ATR
- the functions with a mapping of the surface
- the wetting from goniometric measurements
- the surface tension
- the roughness from profilometry
- the nano-roughness from atomic force microscopy