M. RANNOU Patrice

Research Overview
In a nutshell: Multi-scale/physics structure/property (electronic/ionic/protonic transfers) correlations within self-assembled & hierarchized synthetic & bio-sourced/mimetic/inspired functional (liquid crystalline) materials addressing UN SDG N°7
Through the rational design, circular chemistry, controlled synthesis & advanced processing of functional (synthetic & bio-based/sourced/inspired (e.g. DNA, Peptide, Protein)) soft materials (block molecules, homo/block co-polymers, dendrons/dendrimers) aiming at encoding complex & efficient functions through hierarchical self-assembly processes across many length scales (nano⇒meso⇒micro⇒macro-scales), the main aim of my research activities over the past 2.5 decades has been dedicated to eradicating all sources of (chemical, structural & energetic) disorder to boost the efficiencies of electronic, ionic & protonic transfers at work within active layers of (opto)electronic actives devices (IT/Organic (Bio)Electronics: FETs & solar cells/OECTs), of proton exchange membranes of Fuel Cells (Energy Conversion), of thermoelectric generators & coolers (Energy Harvesting), and of (liquid crystalline/polymer/”hybrid” inorganic/organic) solid-state electrolytes of batteries & supercaps (Energy Storage). These (bio)material science approaches are combined with the technical developments of multimodal (at the LEPMI lab & ESRF large scale facility) platforms for performing in depth (ex/in situ & operando) studies with the goal of accessing the intrinsic (defect-free) & ultimate electronic, ionic & protonic transfer performances of functional soft materials towards next generation applications within the fields of IT (Nano(Bio)electronics) & Energy conversion, harvesting (Hydrovolatic energy), and storage (Nano-ionics/fluidics).

Research Areas
-Circular Chemistry towards Functional Multi-Block (Supra/Macro)Molecules
-Self-Organized (Bio-inspired/sourced) π-Conjugated (Semi)Conducting & Ionically Conducting Materials
-Organic/(Supra)Molecular (Opto)Electronics & Iontronics

Research Interests & Keywords
-Organic & (Supra/Macro)Molecular Chemistry: (Supra/Macro)Molecular Engineering Approaches & Synthetic Routes towards Oligo/Poly-mers, Alternated Copolymers, Block Molecules/Copolymers & Dendritic Functional Architectures
-1D vs. 2D vs. 3D Self-Assembly of Functional Materials: Controlled Phase Separation (Self-organization & Hierarchization) in (Multiblock) Functional Architectures based on Covalent & Non-Covalent (Ionic, H-Bonding, Van der walls …) Interactions
-π-Conjugated Materials: Organic SemiConductors (thiophene-based OSCs) & Organic Conductors (aniline-based OCs)
-Organic Single Crystals & Functional Liquid Crystals (LCs): Molecular OSCs, Calamitic/Sanidic & Polycatenar LC OSCs
-Bioinspired, Biobased & Biosourced OSCs: DNA-OSC Hybrids, Self-Assembled Oligo(Peptide)s (Quantum Dots (QDs) & Nanotubes (NTs)), and Proteins (Amyloid Fibers))
-Ion & Single-Ion Conducting Materials: Homo/Block Co-polymers, Mono-End-Capped Polymers, Dynamic Polymer Networks & Thermotropic Ionic Liquid Crystals (TILCs)
-Ionic/Protonic/Electronic Transport & Optoelectronic Properties: dc-Conductivity, Charge Carrier Mobility (SCLC/OFET), Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), Electronic/Energy/Ionic Transfers
-Optoelectronic & Iontronic Devices: Organic Field-Effect Transistors (OFETs), Organic Solar Cells, Organic ElectroChemical Transistors (OECTs), (Micro)Batteries, Supercapacitors

PhD Openings
*Self-healing electrolytes for an efficient and sustainable solid-sate energy storage: Microbatteries 2.0 (FIRESTONE)
Position filled as of June 7, 2022!  

Personal Selection of 34 Publications (P1-34) over the 2002-2024 Period (full list on request ) of over 137 papers (80 regular articles & 57 proceeding papers), 2 book chapters (Electronic & Optical Properties of Conjugated Molecular Systems in Condensed Phase, 2003 & Handbook of Liquid Crystals, 2014), and 17 patents: