Reseach themes

My principal research interests are on polymers and colloidal science and revolve around the development of new synthetic methods and concepts to control the structure and functional properties of colloidal materials. My research activities include both the synthesis of dispersed colloidal systems and the design of materials formed from them, and is organized around three major research axes.

A) Synthesis of hybrid particles and complex nano-objects with controlled morphologies

B) Living and/or controlled polymerizations

C) Particles and functional materials in response to environmental and societal challenges

Current projects

 

Pickering stabilization of latex particles

Among the main thrusts of my current activities on the first axis is the synthesis of surfactant-free latexes stabilized by inorganic particles by conventional emulsion or dispersion polymerization. We have pioneered the use of nanosized clay platelets as solid stabilizers of a range of vinyl polymers leading to clay-armored latexes that can be processed into honeycomb structured nanocomposite film materials with remarkable mechanical properties. We currently develop innovative synthetic strategies toward the formation of a variety of inorganic-armored latex particles with desirable functionalities (anti-UV, magnetic, antibacterial, etc.). In collaboration with Nida Sheibat-Othman of the LAGEPP, we have also recently worked on the modeling of the polymerization process using Laponite clay as stabilizer (see now).

Vitrimer latexes and vitrimer-thermoplastic alloys

(collaboration with D. Montarnal and E. Drockenmuller (IMP, Lyon))

Vitrimers represent a new class of crosslinked polymers, where the crosslinks are in permanent exchange through chemical reactions in dynamic equilibrium. Such networks are thus insoluble like thermosets, but flow when heated like thermoplastics. While more and more well-known equilibrium reactions (transesterifications, cross-metathesis, etc.) are currently finding a revival in vitrimers, this versatile concept was so far limited to bulk materials. At CP2M, we recently reported the first example of epoxy-acid vitrimer latexes by miniemulsion polymerization and demonstrated the formation of crosslinked polymer films by sintering of the particles at high temperature (see now). Building on this success, we now want to develop interpenetrating or semi-interpenetrated vitrimer/thermoplastic polymer networks, combining fast exchange dynamics and nanostructured morphologies

Free radical emulsion photopolymerization under near infrared (NIR) light

(collaboration with E. Lacôte of the LHCEP, Lyon)

Photopolymerizations have witnessed a huge interest over the past few years for the production of a variety of polymeric materials. While most traditional photoinitiating systems employ UV radiation to generate the active species, the use of longer wavelengths such as visible or near infrared (NIR) light is attracting increasing attention. Indeed, the shift to longer wavelength allows a better penetration of light and enable to overcome the limitations induced by the light scattering making these photoinitiating systems compatible with turbid media, and especially with conventional emulsion polymerization. Following our previous works in visible-light emulsion photopolymerization using N-Heterocyclic carbene-boranes as co-initiators (ANR PHOTO-B), we now wish to use NIR light with single or multiphoton excitations to trigger the photopolymerization of styrenic or (meth)acrylic monomers in dispersed media using redox initiators or NIR dyes specifically designed for multiphoton absorption and compatible with water or hydroalcoolic media (ANR IR-EMULSION).

RDRP-mediated synthesis of organic/inorganic nanostructured colloidal materials

The research activities carried out under this heading will build on the strong expertise gained over the past ten years on the use of living polymers (macroalkoxyamines or macroRAFTs) to promote the nucleation and growth of hydrophobic polymers on the surface of inorganic particles, leading to the formation of composite latexes of various morphologies. We now wish to deepen our understanding of the underlying mechanisms with the view to further improve morphological control and create robust and predictable organic/inorganic assemblies. In parallel, we will extend the approach to a larger range of inorganic materials of potential industrial interest such as zinc oxide and progress towards industrially viable materials and processes, with emphasis on microstructure-properties relationships.

Composite latexes for thermochromic coating applications

(collaboration with J. Faucheu and R. Charrière of EMSE, St Etienne)

This multidisciplinary project aims at developing a nanocomposite thermoactive polymer coating containing vanadium dioxide (VO₂) particles. VO₂ is a thermochromic compound known to undergo an Insulator-Metal Transition leading to a high dielectric constant change, in particular in the near infrared. Above the transition temperature (Tc), VO₂ behaves like a metal and reflects the sun light while below Tc, near IR wavelengths are transmitted by the material. The coatings developed within this project will thus exhibit a different behavior in cold (winter) conditions and hot (summer) conditions to perform an optimized thermal effect on the coated substrate (ANR THERMOCOAT).

Supervision and partners

Recently (Co-)Supervised Researchers

During the recent period (2024-2025), I have (co-)supervised six PhD students whose theses were successfully defended, covering polymer synthesis, colloidal self-assembly, vitrimer materials, photopolymerization, and electrophoretic inks. These projects were supported by major national and international fundings (ANR, CSC), and conducted in close collaboration with leading academic partners.

• Mr. Leo Gazetta defended his PhD on December 11, 2024, on the scalable synthesis of nanostructured thermoplastic-based vitrimer latexes and films, combining radical polymerization and dynamic covalent chemistries, within the ANR project MATVIT.

• Ms. Magalie Schoumacker defended her PhD on November 13, 2024, focusing on photoinitiating systems for polymer latex synthesis using multiphoton and NIR excitation, within the ANR project IR-EMULSION.

• Ms. Léa Jacquin defended her PhD on December 11, 2024, on model polyethylene particles for the study of micro- and nanoplastics in marine environments, funded by the ANR project POEM.

• Ms. Huanhuan Ma defended her PhD on December 17, 2024, on the self-assembly of electrosterically stabilized inorganic colloids into composite particles and films, supported by a Chinese Government Scholarship.

• Ms. Julie Bratanasu defended her PhD on January 10, 2025, on nanostructured, heat-deactivatable vitrimer-based adhesive systems, within the ANR project VITRIPSA.

• Ms. Nedjma Beldjoudi defended her PhD on November 4, 2025, on non-aqueous pigmented polymeric dispersions for electrophoretic ink applications, within the ANR project DEFINED.

 

I am currently (co-)supervising:

• Ms. Caterina Dasmi (PhD student, started February 2024). Her research investigates the effect of nanoparticle size and the polymer–particle interface/interphase on fatigue resistance in silica-reinforced PMMA nanocomposites, linking molecular interphase mechanisms to macroscopic crack propagation. This work is conducted within the ANR NANOLIFE project, and is co-supervised with Dr. Fabrice Brunel and Dr. D. Montarnal.

• Mr. Thibaut Guichard (PhD student, started October 2024). Thibaut’s thesis focuses on developing graphene-polymer nanocomposites using unmodified graphene via latex routes, aiming to preserve graphene’s intrinsic properties while controlling its organization to tune composite architecture and anisotropic electrical conductivity. His research is funded by the MESRI, and is co-supervised with Pr. E. Beyou and Dr. A. Serghei (IMP, Lyon).

• Ms. Aiswarya Anil (PhD student, started October 2025) is working on the sintering of sol-gel vitrimer composites within the ANR VITRISINT project coordinated by Dr. D. Montarnal.

• Ms. Elena Rigo (Postdoctoral fellow, started October 2025), is working on pressure-sensitive adhesives, with research sponsored by industry.

• Mr. Hippolyte Dory (Postdoctoral fellow, started November 2025) is co-supervised with F. Brunel, and works on the incorporation of ionic functional groups into polymer-encapsulated inorganic pigments to improve electrophoretic ink performance in apolar media. His research is funded by the ANR DEFINED project.

• Ms. Flavian Bulemu (PhD student started November 2025) is working on photopolymerization in dispersed systems stabilized by inorganic particles, exploring innovative Pickering emulsion approaches. Her research is funded by the ANR PHOTO-PICK project and involves interdisciplinary collaborations with IRCP (Paris), LCH (ENS Lyon), and IS2M (Mulhouse). She is co-supervised with D. Montarnal, M. Lansalot and E. Lacôte.

• Mr. Yann Mourer (PhD student, started November 2025). His research focuses on developing crosslinkable, degradable, and repolymerizable latexes via emulsion polymerization, using polythioester and polydisulfide chemistries. This project is conducted within the ANR DYNAMIC LATEX, co-supervised with Dr. Damien Montarnal and coordinated by A. Chemtob (IS2M, Mulhouse).

• Ms. Sofia Da Silva Alves (Master student (M2), starting March 2026) who will be co-supervised with D. Montarnal, and will work on the incorporation of cleavable moieties into pressure-sensitive adhesive latexes. Her work is sponsored by the industry.

 

Among my other current involvements, I am also partner of the ANR project POLYBORA coordinated by Dr. Jean Raynaud on the synthesis of 2D and 3D boron-containing functional polymer architectures.

 

Extra links :

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Keywords : 

Colloidal nanocomposite particles. Heterophase polymerizations. Pickering stabilization. Reversible deactivation radical polymerization. Polymerization induced self-assembly. Multi-responsive microgels. Functional (nano)materials. Kinetics and mechanism.