Institut Européen des Membranes - UMR5635

The department "Design of Membrane Materials and Multifunctional systems" (DM³ brings together 16 permanent researchers whose research activities fall into three research topics (figure below)

The core competency of the “Materials” research field lies in the development of functional and application-oriented materials ranging from the molecular level up to the characterization of their properties and testing. Materials-specific and technological aspects for proof of concept and industrial applications are considered.
The objective of DM³ department is to solve scientific challenges in the field of materials science, in particular through three axes:

1) Synthesis of non-conventional materials through conceptual, methodological and original technology approaches (from porous to dense materials in the form of powders, fibers, films, monoliths, nanostructured or not)

2) Characterization and mechanistic investigation of these materials at every stage of their synthesis to understand the physico-chemical phenomena taken place during their synthesis (in the bulk, at the interfaces, on the surface) which allow optimizing their design and the targeted properties (relationship between nano-/micro-structure and physico-chemical properties)

3) Study of their functionality and their properties of use to develop innovative responses (such as proof of concept or industrial applications) to society in the areas of structural materials, energy, environment and health fields.

The successful development of new application fields through targeted combination of structural and functional properties in materials from molecular compounds to ceramics is reflected in the following skills:
 Molecular Engineering: (supra)molecular, bioorganic, inorganic (especially around the chemistry of boron and silicon)
 Preparation of thin films, processing and surface modification
 Plasma methods, microwave-assisted methods, shaping tools, conventional heat treatments
 Self-assembly / self-organization, replication methods, molding methods
 Material Synthesis methods: "preceramic polymers" (or PDCs for Polymer-Derived Ceramics) and sol-gel routes, Polyol, solvothermal routes, ...
 General methods for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles
 Hybrid materials organic/inorganic, oxides, non-oxides, hybrids (oxide/non-oxide) and nanocomposites
 Porous materials with controlled architecture leading to organizations at different scales
 Functional materials: membranes, sensors, storage materials, electrode materials, catalyst supports, (photo)catalysts, with ion channels, with artificial water channel systems, ...
 General concepts on porosity, water treatment and filtration, permselectivity of gases, fluids/ materials interactions, hydrogen production and storage, heterogeneous catalysis, photocatalysis.
Our wide range of capabilities includes the following specific equipments:
 CVD and ALD reactors assisted by plasma, pyrolysis furnaces with inert and reactive atmosphere, microwave assisted systems
 Shaping processes (extruder, melt-spinning, electro-spinning/spraying, warm-pressing, dip-, spin- coating,...), glove boxes
 Liquid filtration pilots, gas separation pilots
 Hydrogen generation reactors, catalytic reactors
 Characterization tools adapted to the study of the porous texture of thin layers.
The researchers have an excellent expertise and gained an international recognition in their area that contribute to the thematic diversity, high quality scientific production, and the visibility of the DM3 department. With this potential, the research developed in the department lies within the context with strong scientific and technical issues, particularly through large-scale projects such as ANR, FUI and EU projects as well as industrial partnerships.