The LIONS Research Group at CEA Saclay

LIONS is interested in the physical and chemical mechanisms that makes it possible to obtain nanostructured materials. The aim of this research is to understand and thus better use the original properties resulting from nanostructuring while guaranteeing a low environmental impact and safety of use (Safe by Design) by adapted synthesis methods. A rational design using statistical physics and modeling enable to develop nanostructured materials and the methods to obtain them. Manufacturing and characterization are based on laboratory techniques (small-angle X-ray scattering, electron or atomic force microscopy, etc.) but also a lot on large instruments (ESRF, Soleil, ILL) often including coupling microfluidics. The nanoparticles or nanostructured materials thus obtained are either directly useful in the field of energy, environment or health, or constitute model systems which makes it possible to advance knowledge in the field of interaction with living organisms (nanotoxicity and nanomedicines) or physico-chemistry under radiation (photocatalysis, radiolysis). The laboratory's activity results in the production of new knowledge (around thirty articles per year, numerous national and international conferences) and valorization actions (patents, licenses, start-ups) on the materials themselves and the original methods developed to design and characterize them.