Innovation hat trick | CNRS News

Cyril Aymonier
Putting water under special conditions of temperature and pressure, so-called “supercritical” conditions, allows it to mix with oils but no longer dissolve salts. In general, solvents under supercritical conditions begin to behave somewhere between gases and liquids. This mixing behavior is particularly useful for synthesizing, shaping and Recycling of unavailable materials using conventional methods. “Supercritical fluid technologies are part of the circular economy and sustainable development. Among other things, they make it possible to increase the proportion of recycled raw materials in new materials,” explains Cyril Aymonier.

The CNRS Research Professor is a world-renowned expert in these supercritical fluid media and Director of the Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry in Bordeaux. He designs new materials and raw materials for recycling, while also developing processes adapted to supercritical conditions.

Cyril Aymonier’s research has resulted in nearly 50 patents, more than 30 of which are from collaboration contracts with industrial partners such as Safran, Arkema, Imerys, Renault, Essilor or L’Électrolyse. These collaborations with industry cover a wide range of applications, from the synthesis of artificial minerals, catalysis and aeronautical materials to the recycling of photovoltaic cells, magnets, food packaging and thermoplastics.

In 2019, his work also led to Startup IdelamThe company uses a unique layering technology to recycle complex multi-component materials. He is very passionate about training through research and has supervised more than 70 papers and postdoctoral studies, more than half of which were in collaboration with industry. He points out that most of the problems that interest industry can be translated into scientific problems, which is why my activities range from very basic research to technology transfer in collaboration with industry. This year’s Innovation Medal complements the CNRS Bronze Medal he received in 2011.

Luderik Boquet
Water is the “blue gold” that never ceases to amaze us. Recent research in nanofluidics has shown that water flows with properties at the nanoscale (e.g. when passing through carbon nanotubes), which can lead to unexpected potential applications. Power generation, nanoscale writing, removal of alcohol from beverages and (coming soon) desalination of seawater are just some of the applications of Lydéric Bocquet’s fundamental research. He is a research professor of physics at the CNRS, works in the physics laboratory of the École Normale Supérieure in Paris, has filed 12 patents (especially for membranes) and founded 4 start-ups.

Swich Energy Founded in 2015, it is dedicated to creating renewable energy using the difference in salinity between seawater and freshwater. Lydéric Bocquet explains the huge potential of this “carbon-free, uninterrupted energy source”, as “the potential global reserves are estimated to be between 1,000 and 2,000 GW – equivalent to 1,000 to 2,000 nuclear reactors, while there are currently only 400 on Earth”. Recently founded startup Ilion has also developed a method to use the ocean Innovative desalination technology. From 2020 Hu Mingke has brought to market a nanoprinting technology that works on large surfaces without the need for clean rooms. other Using graphene oxide membranes to remove alcohol from beverages such as wine and beer. Lydéric Bocquet’s work has wide applications, thanks to his role as a scientific advisor to several companies, including Saint-Gobain and Plastic Omnium.

However, Lydéric Bocquet’s close collaboration with industry has not affected his academic work in any way. He is a member of the French Academy of Sciences, a professor at the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris, and was awarded the Silver Medal of the French National Academy of Sciences in 2017. In addition to innovative research, Lydéric Bocquet also conducts research in nanofluidics. His research focuses on quantum engineering of nanoscale fluids and designing ionic nanomachines to simulate various biological functions, including neurons, and be able to perform certain basic learning tasks.

Eleni Diamond
What if light could help the quantum computing revolution reach its full potential? This is what Eleni Diamanti, a research professor at the LIP6 laboratory at the French National Center for Scientific Research, is working to achieve. She uses photons as quantum information carriers and develops different technical solutions for quantum communication networks. She also perfects encryption protocols, especially for Enables robust key exchange in the event of future attacks by quantum computers.

In addition to her academic work, the research professor works closely with innovation stakeholders. She “does not like things to be static” and prefers “new ideas and directions provided by a collaborative research ecosystem.” In 2022, she co-founded Welinq Startup The company has become a leader in quantum technology in France. Welinq provides quantum memory-based solutions that connect multiple quantum processors to overcome the limitations of the computing power of a single processor. Welinq also promotes its technology in long-distance quantum communication infrastructure.

Eleni Diamanti is the director of the Centre des Technologies Quantums in Paris, which comprises 23 laboratories working on quantum technologies. The researcher’s expertise has led to numerous collaborations with industrial companies such as Airbus, Deutsche Telekom, Orange or Thales Alenia Space, as well as institutions such as the European Space Agency and Onera. She finds this situation particularly interesting and explains: “I have witnessed first-hand the development of my field of research from a particularly specialized niche to attracting a lot of attention, including from major industrial groups and governments.” Earlier this year, Eleni Diamanti received the Silver Medal of the French National Academy of Sciences in recognition of the attention her work has received.