Development of functional hybrid organic/inorganic architectures : methodology and applications

我们的研究项目旨在功能混合材料的概念（设计，合成，表征和性能评估）。由于其独特的电子和光学特性，无机纳米结构被大量应用。然而，由于它们缺乏溶解度、容易结块、附着力差和缺乏内聚性等原因，它们难以大规模开发。为了解决这些问题，必须使用表面活性剂、粘合剂、表面配体、分散剂，但它们的存在通常会导致材料的电子或光学性能恶化。***在这里，我们将探索使用瞬变表面活性剂的纳米颗粒和纳米管的分散。瞬变表面活性剂是一类新型的表面活性剂，在溶液中具有表面活性，但在固态中会蒸发。为此，我们将探索各种烯烃单体与二氧化硫的共聚，形成一种能够在溶液中稳定纳米材料的两亲性聚合物。有趣的是，这种聚合物也是自焚的：在热、光或酸刺激的作用下，它们解聚成挥发性单体。作为应急计划，我们还将探讨醛的阴离子聚合形成短暂的表面活性剂。所得到的分散体将用于形成导电油墨，由于在导电纳米颗粒或纳米管之间的界面上没有界面有机材料，预期的结果是达到更高的导电性。我们还将探索石墨化聚合物的形成。这种聚合物是可溶的，可加工的，但在刺激作用下，它转变成石墨。为此，将研究聚对苯基亚甲基的化学性质。将使用在光照下分解的光酸发生器触发转化为石墨。石墨化聚合物的使用提供了在各种材料上直接激光书写顽固性石墨的可能性。总的来说，这个研究项目可能会对微电子工业中应用的纳米材料的配方产生重大影响。***每年将支持四名博士生和两名本科生，使高素质人才的形成成为我们研究计划的重要组成部分。

Our research program aims at the conception (design, synthesis, characterization and property assessment) of functional hybrid materials. Due to their unique electronic and optical properties, inorganic nanostructures are exponentially used for a plethora of applications. However, they are difficult to exploit on a large scale due, inter alia, to their absence of solubility, their tendency to agglomerate, their poor adhesion and their lack of cohesiveness. To address these issues, surfactants, binders, surface-ligands, dispersants must be employed, but their presence is often responsible for a deterioration of the electronic or optical performance of the material. ***Here, we will explore the dispersion of nanoparticles and nanotubes using ephemeral surfactants, a novel class of surfactants which are surface-active in solution, but which evaporate in the solid-state. For this purpose, we will explore the copolymerization of a variety of olefin monomers with sulfur dioxide to form an amphiphilic polymer capable of stabilizing nanomaterials in solution. Interestingly, such polymers are also self-immolative: under the action of a heat, light or acid stimulus, they depolymerize into volatile monomeric units. As a contingency plan, we will also explore the anionic polymerization of aldehydes for the formation of ephemeral surfactants. The resulting dispersions will be used to form conducting inks, with the expected outcome that a higher conductivity be reached due to the absence of interfacial organic material at the interface between conducting nanoparticles or nanotubes. ***We will also explore the formation of a graphitizing polymer. Such polymer is soluble and processable, but under the action of a stimulus, it transforms into graphite. For this purpose, the chemistry of poly paraphenylene methylene will be investigated. A photoacid generator which decomposes under illumination will be used to trigger the transformation into graphite. The use of graphitizing polymers offer the possibility of direct laser writing of intractable graphite on a wide range of materials. ***Overall, this research program could have a significant impact of the formulation of nanomaterials for application for the microelectronic industry.***Four PhD students and two undergraduate students will be supported each year, making the formation of highly qualified personnel an essential component of our research program.