General framework of the activity
The Institute of Materials was created in 1988 by the renowned French chemist Jean Rouxel. Drawing together chemists, physicists and materials engineers from the CNRS and the University of Nantes, with over 150 researchers and support staff it now represents one of the largest materials research centres in France. Research projects are diverse, including collaborations with industry, and other national and international research organisations.
At the IMN we develop a fundamental understanding of the science of materials and their properties from the atomic scale upwards. This allows the design, characterisation and optimisation of new materials for a diverse range of high technology applications, including next generation solar cells, fuel cells, electric car batteries, nanotechnology, smart materials, materials for microelectronics, photonic and optical materials.
5 research groups :
- Physics of materials and nanostructures (PMN)
- Plasma processes and thin films (PCM)
- Electrochemical storage and conversion of energy (ST2E)
- Innovative materials for optics, photovoltaic and storage (MIOPS)
- Material engineering and metallurgy (ID2M)
Specific skills in the MRE field
IMN has developed physical vacuum deposition, Ni coatings very effective against corrosion, to protect high value-added parts in offshore systems.