---

Main axes of research

• Characterisation on the nanometre or, even atomic scale, of solid materials:
  • elemental, molecular and chemical composition
  • materials identification
  • structural analysis
  • testing
• Development of new surface treatments, using techniques assisted by plasma, for industrial applications:
  • surface modification by plasma
  • plasma polymerisation by electrical discharge at atmospheric pressure
  • formulation of new coatings by deposition under vacuum
  • production of “smart” materials in thin layers
  • plasma technology for the production of line production of thin layers, discontinuously on components and at high volume
  • manufacturing of innovative nanomaterials
• Fabrication of innovative nanomaterials:
  • development of atomically-precise fabrication technologies and processes for growing highly controlled nanoparticles with novel/improved properties
  • selective construction of complex nanostructures
  • localised surface engineering to efficiently interface nanostructured materials with external environment
  • fabrication of precise patterns of surface to change optical properties, polarity, reactivity, robustness, etc.
• Development of scientific instruments to analyse materials and surface treatment:
  • development of innovative techniques and methods in the fields of analysis of materials and surface treatment
  • development of new instruments
  • development of new add-on accessories for existing instruments
  • studies in the fields related to these developments
  • simulations and modelling

Application domains

The SAM department gives its industrial and academic partners access to ultra-specialised technical platforms, and brings them the expertise of a multiple-discipline team of specialists in materials science. It provides a wide range of services to assist industrial clients and players in fundamental and applied research, in all their materials and surfaces R&D projects and technological development work, as well as helping them with their dayto- day problems concerning materials.

Areas of competence

Automotive, Construction, Engineering, Environment, Life Sciences, health and biotechnology, Materials and surface treatment, Aeronautics and space, Measuring and testing devices, Other industrial (printing, paper, wood, etc), Heating and ventilation, Electronics, micro- and nanosystems, Energy, Chemical and parachemical industry, Mineral, glass and ceramic products, Company services, consulting, Metallurgy and metal works

Technology keywords

Adhesives - Amplifier, A/D Transducer - Analyses/Test Facilities and Methods - Apparatus Engineering - Chemical material testing - Coatings - Computational Chemistry and Modelling - Electronic measurement systems - Environmental and Biometrics Sensors, Actuators - Environmental Engineering/Technology - Materials Technology - Medical Biomaterials - Medical Research - Micro- and Nanotechnology related to Biological sciences - Micro- and Nanotechnology related to physical and exact sciences - Micro-Mechanics - Nanotechnologies related to Electronics and Microelectronics - Optical Materials - Optics - Renewable Sources of Energy - Sensors/Multisensor Technology, Instrumentation - Solid state physics - Surface treatment (painting, galvano, polishing, CVD, PVD)