Members

For the staff, the laboratory is composed of 14 permanent faculties (7 Professors, 5 assistant/associate professors, 1 MD-PhD, 1 emeritus professor), 2 MDs and 6 technical staffs (2 research engineers, 2 engineers, 2 technical assistants).

For the non-permanent people, the numbers vary according to the years but turn around 8/9 PhD students, 3/4 postdoctoral fellows or research engineers and 2/3 master students.

Key words

Organic Electronics, semiconducting nanostructures, electrodeposition in ionic liquid, modelling of electrical properties, biosensors, nanobiotechnology, fluorescent quantum dots, labelling, nanocharacterization, cryomicroscopy, Transmission electron microscopy and related analytical modes (EDS, EELS), correlative microscopy, instrumentation, Atomic Force Microscopy (“classical” and high speed), cathodoluminescence, Kelvin Probe Microscopy, nanoInfrared spectroscopy and microscopy, nanomechanical properties, biophysics

Research topics

At the organizational and scientific level, the laboratory is organized around 3 topics, the staffs being able to intervene in several thematic areas according to their competences:

The research field "elaboration of nanomaterials and applications" brings together topics related to the development of organic transistors and the development of semiconducting nano-objects through low cost methods that can lead to industrial transfers such as electrodeposition, mainly in ionic solvent, which allows controlled growths of nanowires and nanotubes. Highly fluorescent CdSe/ZnS quantum dots are also synthesized chemically. The synthesized objects are characterized by classical methods for their structural properties (electron microscopies and associated analytical analysis EDS or EELS, X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy, Raman...), optical properties (UV-vis, fluorescence, photoluminescence, cathodoluminescence) and electrical (4-point measurements, I(V), C(V) with temperature control) as well as by original methods developed in theme 2. The experimental results are complemented by modeling of the electrical properties of organic transistors and semiconductor nanocrystals (Monte Carlo model for carrier diffusion lengths). For OTFTs (Organic Thin Film Transistors), an original I(V) model of organic transistor that takes into account the physical mechanisms of charge transport and injection in organic semiconductors has been developed.

The theme "Nanocharacterization and methodological developments" includes activities related to the development of new characterization techniques at the nanoscale, from nanomaterials to biological objects. The electron microscopies (scanning transmission electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy), near-field microscopy and fluorescence microscopy activities provides a very versatile panel of methodologies for characterizing the nano-objects developed in the lab or by national and international partners. In addition to conventional analyzes, the researchers focus on the development of new experiments to improve the potentiality of the commercialized equipment but also to correlate the structural, chemical, optical, mechanical and electronic properties at nanoscale. Current developments include KPFM measurements of polarized devices, NanoInfrared measurements coupled with local mechanical properties, the development of high-speed AFM microscopy, electronic cryomicroscopy techniques and optical/electronic correlative microscopy.

The topic "Nano-biotechnology" focuses on the field of Health and biology at the interface between "nano" and "bio", that is to say the recognition of endogenous biomolecules by synthetic nano-biosensors. Biomedical applications are related to the development of "lab-on-a-bead" and "lab-on-a-chip" diagnostic platforms using semiconducting fluorescent Quantum Dots (QDs) and polymer beads doped with QDs of different sizes and colors. The new sensor molecules such as "single domain" antibodies coupled with individual QDs or on the surface of QD-doped beads are part of the team's innovative developments allowing for a very significant increase in sensitivity and specificity for the detection and diagnosis of tumoral, inflammatory and autoimmune pathologies.

Know-how

• Development of Type IV nanowires by electrodeposition in ionic solvent
• Cryomethods / nanoanalyses in transmission electron microscopy
• Nanobiotechnological techniques and know-how unique in France and internationally recognized
• Recognized skills in modeling and characterization of electrical properties of organic components
• Development of original and innovative atomic force microscopy techniques (High speed, nanoInfrared, nanomechanics)
• Strong know-how in instrumentation

Partnerships

• ICUBE UMR CNRS 7357, University of Strasbourg
• CBMN UMR CNRS UMR 5248, University of Bordeaux
• LPICM, CNRS-UMR 7647, Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau
• POMMA, UMR-CNRS 6136, University of Angers
• GES, CC074, UMR-CNRS 5650, University of Montpellier II
• ISTM UMR-CNRS 6200, University of Angers
• IPCMS, CNRS-UMR 7177, University of Strasbourg
• LACCO, CNRS-UMR 6503, University of Poitiers
• IM2NP, UMR CNRS 7334, University of Aix-Marseille
• UMET, UMR CNRS 8207 – University of Lille
• IGBMC, CNRS UMR 7104 - Inserm U 964, University of Strasbourg
• Technical university of Troyes (UTT), LNIO, France
• Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart, Germany
• IMEC, Belgium
• Institute of Solid State Physics, Academy of Science Moscow, Russia
• Institute of Physics, J. Dlugosz University of Czestochowa, Poland
• Electronic Department, Technical University of Czestochowa, Poland
• LOEPCM, University Ibn Tofail, Marocco
• GEMOE, Marrakech, University Cadi Ayyad, Marocco
• International Innovation Center, Kyoto University, Japan
• Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of New Orleans, USA
• New Advanced Materials & Nanotechnology, Alexandria University, Egypt
• physics center of Minho, Braga Portugal
• University of Central Florida, Orlando, USA
• University of Tennesse, USA
• Institute Chemyakin-Ovchinnikov, Russia
• Technical University of Dresden, Germany
• Federal Institute for Materials Research, Berlin, Germany
• University of Mons, Belgium
• University of Bucharest, Roumania
• MePHI, Moscow, Russia

Patents

Bercu B., Giraudet L., Simonetti O., Nicolas J.-L., Molinari M., "Procédé pour la mesure de potentiels de surface sur des dispositifs polarisés", PCT/FR2013/052140 (2013) - FR 2995698 (A1), classification internationale : G01N27/60 ; G01R31/28. Référence équivalente : WO 2014044966 (A1).

A. Kisserli, V. Duret, W. Mahmoud, B. Reveil, J.H.M. Cohen. "Méthode de détermination du polymorphisme de longueur de la molécule CR1" », Demande de Brevet N° FR1454010 (2014). Université de Reims-Champagne Ardenne

Equipment

• Transistor analyzer and capacimeter
• Inkjet printer for organic electronics
• Reflection optical microscop
• 2 gloveboxes
• Cryostat for 4 point measurements, I(V)/C(V)
• AFM/KPFM for measurements of polarized devices (with controlled environment)
• profilometer
• rheometer
• tabletop goniometer
• ellipsometer
• 3 Potentiostats/Galvanostats for electrodeposition with EQCM
• Reactor for chemical synthesis of QDs
• AFM equipped with PFQNM mode and humidity controlled chamber and controlled temperature
• Scanning Electron Microscop (SEM) JEOL7900F prime with variable pressure, EDS detector and cathodoluminescence setup in UV and visible
• nanoindenter
• Transmission Electron microscop JEOL 2100 F equipped with avec EDS and EELS detectors, cathodoluminescence, cold holders, special holder for correlative microscopy
• Cryomicrotome
• 3 cell culture chambers (PSM, incubators…)
• spectrofluorimeter
• UV-Visible-near Infrared absorption
• Inverted fluorescence optical microscop
• AFM for biology coupled with a confocal microscop

Specificities

The laboratory develops a very strong multidisciplinary activity thanks to the presence of physicists, electronics engineers, biophysicists, biochemists, and clinicians who place the LRN in a strong dynamic of development at the interfaces and allows us to develop ambitious projects by internally controlling the different aspects going from development, to characterization and final application.

In addition, one of the strengths of the laboratory is its high visibility internationally with the participation as a PI or partner in several FP7, H2020, ERA-NET or exchange projects thanks to the skills of its researchers.