The elaboration of nano-objects of different nature (metals, oxides, semiconductors, hybrids) by chemical means, via the implementation of various methods (e.g. sol-gel method, organometallic chemistry, polyol method, etc.), is adapted to guarantee the desired properties for each targeted application.
Although enormous progress has been made in recent years in terms of the development of nanostructures of controlled composition, size and morphologies, these still rely too much on empirical approaches and a rationalization effort remains necessary.
The GDR NINO aims to compare everyone’s experiences, to identify broad guidelines for the preparation of nano-objects and to propose new ones. Furthermore, the reliability of the development protocols, that is to say, the reproducibility of the syntheses, will be ensured by the concatenation of all the acquired knowledge and skills.
In view of the numerous synthesis parameters and the synthesis methods selected, shared databases will be developed by the members of the GDR to be able to use the full potential of AI and optimize the synthesis processes. The potential for large-scale synthesis by suitable methods will also be explored by including micro-fluidic synthesis routes, for example. In fact, any application cannot be considered without this production capacity. We will be able to learn about the potential and disadvantages of methods capable of producing, on large scales, well-defined nanostructures (batch, continuous flow syntheses).
Thus, in the GDR NINO, we propose to define adapted/new development strategies, which are proven to be necessary in relation to the “Formation” theme. Chemical routes, due to their flexibility, are among the most promising approaches, but for certain nanostructures, they can only be successful through a breakthrough in the conventional synthetic approaches.