Periodic mesoporous ionosilica nanoparticles with ammonium wallswere synthesized exclusively from a trisilylated ammonium precursor. The nanoparticlesdisplay a uniform particle size, together with a high specific surface area and anordered hexagonal pore architecture. Completely biocompatible in vitro and in vivo,the nanoparticles are efficiently endocytosed by RAW 264.7 macrophages and used ascarrier vehicles for anionic drugs. Diclofenac-loaded ionosilica nanoparticles are veryefficient in inhibiting lipopolysaccharides-induced inflammation.

Block copolymer assemblies are fascinating objects that have been studied for years. In this work, the PS-PNaSS-PS ABA triblock copolymer was synthesized by RAFT polymerization and self-assembled in a selective medium (THF/water). Various morphologies of aggregates were identified (spheres, cylinders, and vesicles) but we focused on large compound vesicles which gave birth to porous materials after solvent evaporation. The change in solvent composition upon drying was modeled and correlated to the change in morphology observed using microscopy techniques such as AFM, TEM and cryo-TEM. The large compound vesicles were found to partially fuse to form a bulk material before the vesicular compartments were opened to yield pores of about 30 nm.

The recycling process toward the elimination of varistor wastes into new electro-active silicon composites has been investigated. We studied the dependence of the E-J characteristics on the aggregate content in the polymer matrix. Formulations with 40 vol.% metal oxide varistor aggregates in the 100-200m range exhibit reliable nonlinear behavior with a switching voltage of 280 +/- 30V/mm. The breakdown voltage of the composite decreases as both filler's diameter and filler's volume fraction increases in the 550-220V/mm and 440-280V/mm range, respectively. This paves the way for the valorization of varistors based zinc oxide (ZnO) ceramics.

Photo-active pi-conjugated molecules (quaterthiophene and phthalocyanine) are either encapsulated into the hollow core of single-walled carbon nanotubes or non-covalently stacked at their outer surface in order to elaborate hybrid nano-systems with new physical properties, providing practical routes to fit different requirements for potential applications. In this study, we are interested in the relationship between the structure and the opto-electronic properties. The structural properties are investigated mainly by x-ray diffraction and/or Transmission Electron Microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. We evidence that the supramolecular organizations of confined quaterthiophenes depend on the nanocontainer size whereas phthalocyanine encapsulation leads the formation of a 1D-phase for which the angle between the molecule ring and the nanotube axis is close to 32°. Confined phthalocyanine molecules display Raman spectra hardly altered with respect to the bulk phase, suggesting a rather weak interaction with the tubes. In contrast, the vibrational properties of the molecules stacked at the outer surface of tubes display important modifications. We assume a significant curvature of the phthalocyanine induced by the interaction with the tube walls and a change of the central atom position within the molecular ring, in good agreement with our DFT calculations.

A thorough understanding of the mechanisms and factors involved in the dynamics of organic carbon in soils is required to identify and enhance natural sinks for greenhouse gases. Some tropical soils, such as Andosols, have 3-6 fold higher concentrations of organic carbon than other kinds of soils containing classical clays. In the tropics, toxic pesticides permanently pollute soils and contaminate crops, water resources, and ecosystems. However, not all soils are equal in terms of pesticide contamination or in their ability to transfer pollution to the ecosystem. Andosols are generally more polluted than the other kinds of soils but, surprisingly, they retain and trap more pesticides, thereby reducing the transfer of pesticides to ecosystems, water resources, and crops. Andosols thus have interesting environmental properties in terms of soil carbon sequestration and pesticide retention. Andosols contain a nano porous clay (allophane) with unique structures and physical properties compared to more common clays; these are large pore volume, specific surface area, and a tortuous and fractal porous arrangement. The purpose of this mini review is to discuss the importance of the allophane fractal microstructure for carbon sequestration and pesticide trapping in the soil. We suggest that the tortuous microstructure (which resembles a labyrinths) of allophane aggregates and the associated low accessibility partly explain the poor availability of soil organic matter and of any pesticides trapped in andosols.

In this work, we develop the concept of evaporation-induced self-structuring as a novel approach forproducing organised films by exploiting cooperative physical and chemical interactions under far-fromequilibriumconditions (spin-coating), using sol–gel precursors with multiple functional groups. Thin filmsof self-structured silsesquioxane nanohybrids have been deposited by spin coating through the sol–gelhydrolysis and condensation of a bridged organosilane bearing self-assembling urea groups. The resultingnanostructure, investigated by FTIR, AFM and SEM, is shown to be highly dependent on the catalyst used(nucleophilic or acidic), and can be further modulated by varying the spinning rate. FTIR studies revealed thepresence of highly organised structures under acidic catalysis due to strong hydrogen bonding between ureagroups and hydrophobic interactions between long alkylene chains. The preferential orientation of the ureacross-links parallel to the substrate is shown using polarized FTIR experiments.

Polymers typically have intrinsic thermal conductivity much lower than other materials. Enhancement of this property may be obtained by the addition of conductive fillers. In this research, epoxy nanocomposites with exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets are prepared and characterized. The chosen approach requires no surface treatment and no sophisticated equipments allowing one to produce composites on a pilot scale. A significant increase of the thermal conductivity with the increasing of the graphite fillers content is nevertheless observed on 4 mm thick specimens. Our results viewed in the latest scientific findings suggest that the choice of resin is an important parameter to move towards composite materials with high thermal conductivity.