The UNESCOS project explores new frontiers for condensed matter physics: the interplay between new states of matter and superconductivity in strongly correlated electron systems. Unlocking this fundamental issue will provide materials scientists with new insights on how to design and produce new superconductors operating at higher temperature. This line of research will ultimately lead to technological breakthrough, new and more efficient avenues to produce, store and transmit electricity. Dealing with the enigmatic “pseudogap” state out of which high temperature superconductivity emerges in the phase diagram of cuprate superconductors, UNESCOS focuses on the study of unconventional charge density instabilities and aim to develop the concept of unconventional superconductivity driven by quantum criticality. The UNESCOS project is a jointed research program involving physicists from LNCMI, LLB and IPhT, whose works have received an important visibility in the last few years, bringing new concepts to this field: (i) Fermi surface reconstruction and stabilization of a charge density wave order under magnetic field, (ii) observation of an intra-unit-cell magnetic order in the pseudogap state using polarized neutron scattering technique, (iii) condensations of new phases, potentially responsible for the pseudogap state, induced by antiferromagnetic quantum fluctuations. Taken separately these works may seem to promote different and apparently conflicting physical pictures. The UNESCOS project takes up the challenge to bridge together phenomena, previously supposed unrelated and promote the emergence of a unified theoretical picture within the framework of a new theory for the pseudogap state implying a multicomponent order parameter mixing a quadrupolar density wave order and d-wave superconductivity. This new, controlled and predictive theory will be developed and specific calculations will be performed to predict and explain new experimental observations that will be carried out within the project. Indeed the theoretical work will be performed in synergy with thermodynamic (sound velocity), diffraction and spectroscopy (neutron and X-ray) measurements providing key information on the microscopic nature and symmetry of the anomalous electronic phenomena. These experiments will require technologies that are available only in large facilities (Neutron source, Synchrotron, High-Magnetic-Field laboratory).

The magnetic properties of nanostructures have been intensely investigated in the last few years since it offers the opportunity to unfold new physical phenomena and design novel devices and applications all at once. An example of such simultaneous progress of fundamental understanding and practical developments can be found in the recent trend consisting in the electrical manipulation of magnetic properties. This opens the way to the design of spintronics devices in which the application of some magnetic field is no longer necessary. Up to now, the research on this topic has essentially focused on manipulating the magnetization of ferromagnetic nanostructures, yet some recent theoretical results suggest that it is also possible to control the magnetic ordering in antiferromagnets (AF) with an electric field or a current, in a more efficient way than for ferromagnets. Antiferromagnets would then play an active role, and not merely act as complementary layers in complex stacking as they do in present devices. The aim of the ELECTR-AF project is to explore the physical mechanisms underlying the electrical control of AF ordering. To unravel the intrinsic phenomena, we choose to focus on model systems. We will focus on heterostructures build around chromium epitaxial thin films, since the AF ordering of bulk Cr is both well known and easy to manipulate. Indeed, high quality chromium samples exhibit a spin density wave (SDW) ordering, the period of the modulated structure being incommensurate with the crystalline lattice. These model AF layers will be included in model heterostructures: we will grow epitaxial bcc metal/MgO/bcc metal trilayers (Cr being either the top or bottom metallic layer). This class of system has played a crucial role in the detailed understanding of spin-dependent tunnelling, and we will thus be able to build on the accumulated knowledge to explore the physics of spin polarized transport in antiferromagnets. We will first carry out thorough studies of the magnetic properties of Cr thin films and of the Cr/MgO interface, in order to obtain a detailed knowledge of our system. We will follow two distinct strategies to manipulate the magnetic ordering of Cr layers: - we will apply a voltage across an MgO layer in order to accumulate charges at the Cr/MgO interface. Given the large sensitivity of Cr to doping, we expect to modify the SDW period. - we will flow a spin polarized current through a Cr layer. We expect to observe spin transfer torque effects, and thus induce switching or precession of Cr ordering parameter. To observe the evolution of Cr magnetic ordering with the external perturbation, we will combine diffraction and magnetotransport measurements. One challenge of this project is to obtain information on the elusive magnetic ordering of Cr. Neutron diffraction is the ideal tool to do so, since it gave direct access to the properties of the SDW (direction of propagation, period, polarization). This project will give us the impetus to push the limits of the technique. We will also use synchrotron-based techniques and benefit from the latest developments in terms of electronic microscopy. The experimental aspects of this project are thus highly ambitious, but we are plainly confident these challenging experiments can be done, in the light of feasibility tests we have run and recent developments in the different techniques.

Lubricating oils are being increasingly used across several industrial applications and the demand for these materials is on the rise and is expected to grow further in order to reduce machinery energy consumption and wear. Within this framework, the development of high performance lubricants is the key for the expansion of important industries and markets. Recently ionic liquids (ILs) have been shown to be promising candidates for novel high performances lubricants thanks to their various physico-chemical properties and their ability to lower significantly the friction between two surfaces. Such promising properties of ILs were found to be highly related to their capacity to nanostructure in bulk and at interfaces. However, the range of viscosities available in most IL classes is rather narrow compared to macromolecular lubricants. Poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) are thus promising candidates to translate the frictional and chemical properties of both polymers and ILs to innovative and highly tuneable macromolecular lubricants. The addition of local interactions inherited from ILs to macromolecules results in a complex and rich panel of chemical and physical properties opening new opportunities to design polymeric materials with targeted functions which are highly related to both structural and dynamical properties of PILs. The POILLU project aims to take advantage of the lubrication properties of ILs and strong slippage ability of polymer melts to develop PILs with enhanced lubrication properties. Supported by the synthesis of a new class of tailored PILs specifically designed to meet the stringent criteria and ambitious objectives of this the project, this multidisciplinary consortium will perform a detailed molecular description of the bulk and interfacial stress transmission mechanisms involved in PILs using complementary state-of-the-art experimental techniques mastered by skilled soft matter physicists. The coupling of extensive bulk rheological characterization and advanced scattering techniques (SANS, WAXS) will enable us to determine the multi-scale structure/dynamic relationship occurring in PILs. The enhanced interfacial nano-structuration of PILs and its impact on surface chains dynamics will be studied thanks to Grazing Incident X-ray Scattering and Surface Force Apparatus nano-rheological measurements. Finally, the lubrication properties of PILs will be characterized using photobleaching based velocimetry technique. This interdisciplinary approach gathering internationally renowned skills in polymer chemistry, physical chemistry and physics that will highlight the exotic properties of PILs both in bulk and at interfaces opening appealing scientific perspectives in the field of complex polymeric materials targeting specific function through a multiscale molecular design.

Today and for some years to come, the development of batteries with high performance and safety at a low cost is the key for the expansion of important industries and markets such as electric vehicles and renewable energies. Lithium-metal polymer battery (LMP) technology is the most attractive one. Lithium-metal as anode shows specific capacity more than ten times that of LiC6 anode used in the widespread lithium-ion battery and is considered as the best to complement the positive air (O2) or sulfur cathodes. However, solid polymer electrolyte must be operated at 80°C to provide sufficient ionic conductivity, so that mechanical properties are weak with a limited electrochemical stability window. Furthermore, as in liquids, the fraction of charge carried by lithium ions is small (transference number 1000) and with a very limited dendritic growth. To reach these objectives, we propose a multidisciplinary approach gathering different complementary skills to design groundbreaking single-ion nanohybrid electrolytes able to afford different antagonist properties (i.e. high ion transport at RT and high mechanical strength). These materials are composed of ionic functional nanofillers (NFs) and amorphous polymer based on poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). SELPHy project therefore devotes to: • The functionalization of NFs from various families (POSS, colloidal silica, cellulose nanofibers) with amorphous PEO short chains and/or lithium salt. • The formulation of single-ion nanohybrid electrolytes by blending functionalized NFs with an ionic conductor matrix, i.e. a crosslinked PEO based polymer. • The depth-characterizations of nanohybrid electrolytes including NFs dispersion state, (macro)molecular dynamics and macroscospic properties (transport and mechanical properties) in the aim to establish the structure-composition-macroscopic properties relationships. • The assembly of LMP battery prototype to qualify the new single-ion nanohybrid electrolytes. We are totally confident that our proposed single-ion electrolytes will exhibit: i) transference number close to 1 since the Li+ counter-ions are covalently grafted to the NFs, ii) High ionic conductivity (i.e. 10-4 S/cm at RT) thank to the high mobility of the amorphous PEO short chains grafted to the NF surface and the use of high lithium dissociated salt iii) Sufficient mechanical properties to encounter dendrites growth provided by the crosslinked polymer network and the NFs reinforcing capacity iv) High electrochemical stability up to 5 V vs Li+/Li (required for the battery comprising high potential active material) due to the grafting of the anions. v) Enhanced thermal stability for the safety thank to the presence of NFs like POSS. SELPHy is a collaborative research project involving three academic partners and interdisciplinary as it gathers indispensable expertise in organic and polymer chemistries, nanocomposite materials, physical chemistry, electrochemistry and electrochemical storage.

In order to respect the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and in a dreadful resurgence of terrorism, the detection and identification of nuclear and radioactive (N/R) material is a crucial issue. This N/R surveillance is achieved through scintillating materials, which convert incident radiation into visible scintillation photons. Territory surveillance is then ensured via the deployment of radiation portal monitor with embedded plastic scintillators (PSs) as displaying the following benefits: large-scale and low-cost production, outdoor condition resistance (not hygroscopic, low-temperature sensitivity) and wide tunability towards different type of radiations. The main technological barrier of this type of sensors remains their low stopping power of high-energy radiation. As primary composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms, PSs have a low effective atomic number (Zeff) which significantly reduces their stopping power against high-energy gamma radiation and thus deteriorating the identification information on the output signals (absence of the characteristic total absorption peaks). Previous strategies reported organometallic of bismuth or lead to increase the Zeff of PSs, but increasing amounts of organometallics in PSs caused a significant loss of luminescence yields. Recent studies have established a proof of concept on the use of high atomic number (Z) nanoparticles and their high doping rate into NanoComposite Scintillators (NCSs). These developments could broaden the PSs scope of applications such as medical diagnostic. The SciNapS project aims to develop other types of Zeff-enhanced NanoComposite Scintillators via high-Z nanophotonic materials and their loading at high amount into plastic matrices. Several nanomaterials will be studied such as Cerium-doped fluoride nanocrystals (La1-xCexF3, LiGd1-xCexF4), Quantum Plates (CdSe/CdS, CdS-ZnSe) and mono-, bi- or trimetallic nanoparticles of gold, silver and platinum. For each type of nanomaterial, Monte-Carlo simulations will identify the best candidates and optimize their dispersion conditions (i.e. inter-object distance, doping rate). The synthesis of the nano-objects (i.e. composition, structures, sizes) and their surface modification (heat treatment, adapted core/shells (CdS, ZnS), polymerizable surfactants) will allow fine adjustment of their photonic features (i.e. absorption and emission wavelengths, quantum yield, fluorescence lifetime) as well as their dispersion at high amount (superior to 20wt%, ideally superior to 50wt%) in aromatic monomer matrices such as styrene. NCSs will then be produced based on similar procedures from PSs or by developing new approaches if necessary, then analyzed toward their structural nature (SAXS), photonics features (lifetime, FRET, quantum yield) and gamma ray response (radioluminescence yield, presence of characteristic total absorption peaks). A benchmark study and a market survey will then be carried out on the best NCSs candidates. Then will follow, if applicable, scale up studies towards nanomaterials and NCSs higher-volumes production. The SciNapS project will gather three academic teams (Chemical Research Institute of Paris (IRCP), Léon Brillouin laboratory (LLB), CEA-LIST), one start-up (Nexdot) specialized in quantum plates development and production and one industrial leader on PSs production (Nuvia). This multidisciplinary consortium thus offers a large network of French academic, enterprising and industrial research.