Research Thematics

Coordination driven self-assembly (S. Goeb, M. Sallé)

Metal-assisted self-assembly allows the synthesis of discrete molecular structures of various geometries under thermodynamic control. The resulting compounds generally show a cavity whose function depends on the nature of the side walls. A first line of our research concerns the development of stimulable tetrathiafulvalene-based electroactive structures able to modulate their guest affinity thanks to a redox stimulus. A second orientation concerns the development of interlocked coordination cages constructed from donor and acceptor units.

Recent financial supports

• PoDACC, 2021-2025, 422 k€, National Research Agency (ANR, PRC call)
• ANR JCJC BOMBER (2015-19) : 173 k€
• CNRS, EMERGENCE@INC, INTERLOCKED (2018-2019) : 65 k€
• Lumomat PHOTOCAGE (2019-20) : 60 k€

Supramolecular photo- and electroactive polymers (D. Canevet, M. Sallé)

Self-assembling functional monomers constitutes a key in bottom-up strategies to prepare nanostructured systems. Among different applications, designing nano- and microwires presents much interest to elaborate conducting and/or luminescent materials. In this context, we notably focus research efforts on pyrene-based organogelators (ex : Chem. Asian. J. 2016, Lai ; Chem. Eur. J. 2016, Lai, hot paper), which display singular spectroscopic properties. In the same vein, we are also interested in a family of organogelators, which displays unexpected nonlinear optical properties. Indeed, the functionalization of push-pull systems by moieties favouring unidirectional aggregation allowed the preparation of original xerogel-based materials, which spontaneously display a second harmonic generation activity (no need for pre-processing) (JACS, 2016, Marco ; Soft Matter 2016, Aparicio ;  Org. Biomol. Chem. 2018, Marco).  

Recent financial supports

• FOGEL, 2017-2021, 402 k€, National Research Agency (ANR, PRC call)

Photo- and redow-switchable foldamers (D. Canevet, M. Sallé)

Foldamers constitute flexible architectures that fold and adopt well-defined and compact conformations. Among various families of foldamers, our research activities mainly focus on oligomers that tend to hybridize to form multiple helices. Our efforts follow two guidelines: demonstrating it is possible to control the multiplicities of the helices thanks to various kinds of stimulations in solution (ChemComm 2017, Aparicio ; ChemComm, 2019, Faour) and integrating these elaborated architectures into advanced materials (ChemComm, 2019, Adam).

Recent financial supports

• MAGIQUES, 2014-2015, 54 k€, Angers Loire Métropole and University of Angers
• FOLD, 2015-2016, 59 k€, LUMOMAT (Pays-de-la-Loire Region)
• RECHERCHE, 2020-2024, 210 k€, National Research Agency (ANR, JCJC call)
• ARDENT, 2020-2021, 154 k€, Pays-de-la-Loire Region

Light-frozen dynamic covalent synthesis of electron-deficient organic semiconductors (A. Goujon)

This approach combines a dynamic covalent approach with a kinetic lock (visible light) to produce complex conjugated systems of various sizes and topologies in a single synthetic step. Electron-deficient materials relevant to organic electronics applications are targeted, in particular nanographenes, ribbons, polymers and multidimensional materials.

Recent financial supports

• PhotoFreeze, 2024-2028, 1.5 M€, European Research Council (ERC StG 2023)
• CURVY, 2022-2024, 144 k€, Pays-de-la-Loire Region
• PhotoSynth, 2021-2024, 224 k€, National Research Agency (ANR, JCJC call)
• AMAZ, 2020-2022, 30 k€, Angers Loire Métropole and University of Angers, AAP PULSAR-CR