The transition toward a more sustainable, digital and technologically advanced society largely depends on the development of innovative materials. In sectors such as energy, microelectronics, nanotechnology, healthcare and the environment, materials must meet increasingly complex requirements: functionality, performance, durability, recyclability and compatibility with advanced industrial processes.
In this context, advanced materials characterization has become a strategic tool. It enables the understanding of materials' properties at various scales (atomic, nano, micro), the identification of underlying mechanisms and the optimization of design and durability.
The shift toward sustainability also depends on anticipating environmental changes driven by climate change. Advanced characterization plays a key role in this area, improving the understanding of interactions between natural materials and their environment.
However, several key challenges arise:
- Growing diversity of materials, including composite, hybrid, nanostructured and bio-inspired systems.
- Need for multi-scale and multi-technique analysis, integrated within multidisciplinary R&D projects.
- Demand for fast and reliable results, aligned with strong industrial expectations.
- Accessibility to cutting-edge equipment.
- Ongoing training and evolving expertise, to manage increasingly complex instrumentation and data set.
- Openness and accessibility, enabling broad community access to characterization expertise through services, collaborations or joint research projects.
Objectives
The mission of the Advanced Characterization of Surface, Interface and Structure group is to provide the scientific and industrial community with an integrated offer of services, expertise and innovation in advanced materials characterization. This includes:
- High-level analytical services: delivered through collaborations, funded projects or direct service provision.
- Innovative methodologies: developed to address emerging technological challenges dedicated to the specific problems/subjects proposed by industrial or academic partners.
- Scientific and technical coordination: leading activities around characterization tools, aligned with the evolving needs of laboratories and partners.
- Characterization data: enhancing their value through advanced data processing.
- User training: supporting researchers, PhD students and engineers in the rational use of instruments and interpretation of results.
These activities support interdisciplinary research, promote resource sharing and assist scientific and technological innovation from the early stages of material development.
Scope of expertise
The group brings together complementary skills and high-end instrumental infrastructure to address complex materials-related challenges. Core expertise includes:
- Surface and Interface Analysis: Techniques such as XPS/UPS, D-SIMS and AFM provide detailed insights into surface composition, elemental distribution, electronic states and nanoscale topography. This is critical for instance, for thin films, coatings and functionalized surfaces characterization.
- Microstructural and Morphological Characterization: With SEM (EDS/WDS) and TEM (EELS/EDS) characterizations, the group achieves high-resolution imaging and elemental analysis, allowing for the study of grain structure, defects, interfaces and nanostructures at sub-micron and atomic scales.
- Crystallography and Structural Analysis: X-ray diffraction (DRX) and X-ray tomography techniques enable the determination of crystal structures, phase composition and 3D internal architecture of materials, essential for understanding bulk properties and internal defects.
- Advanced imaging down to nanometer scale: SEM, AFM, TEM and nano-SIMS allow detailed visualization down to the nanoscale.
- Oxidation and growth mechanisms of functional films: the group uses isotopic tracing, with the help of specific experimental setups, combined with isotopic D-SIMS measurements (SC-Ultra and nano-SIMS).
- Conventional and advanced sample preparation: The platform is equipped for precise, specialized sample preparation, including FIB cross-sectioning for site-specific analysis, cryo-techniques for temperature-sensitive materials, ultramicrotomy for ultrathin sectioning and specialized embedding methods tailored to diverse sample types. These capabilities ensure optimal sample integrity for high-resolution analysis.
- Data processing, visualization, and correlation: The group develops advanced techniques for deeper interpretation and correlation of results across analytical methods. This facilitates comprehensive insights into complex materials systems.
- Consulting and analytical guidance: The group provides expert support across all stages of the analysis workflow, from experimental design and method selection to data interpretation and reporting. This ensures scientifically rigorous outcomes aligned with research or industrial objectives.
The team actively engages in technology watch, academic and industrial partnerships, continuous evolution of protocols, instruments, and know-how.
