FEDER - CNRS - FAST-MIR et THERMOS - FONCT
Kohesio
EPST CNRS
This research project is part of the Research and Innovation Strategies for intelligent specialization (RIS 3) of the Lower Normandy region and more particularly in the field of sustainable and intelligent materials, which represents one of the 5 areas selected by the Lower Normandy region in consultation with local economic stakeholders. The FAST-MIR and THERMOS projects on which this request is based fit more precisely into the sub-area of ​​specialization “Engineering and design of advanced materials which is among the 13 sub-areas identified following consultations between local economic players, representatives of research, businesses and institutions. The FAST-MIR project aims to develop innovative laser materials for ultra-short pulse laser sources operating in the mid-infrared, a wavelength range that is still little known. explored, but which presents strong application potential. The laser materials in question emit around 2m, the spectral range, in which the water absorption bands and the transmission windows of the atmosphere are located and which therefore can have applications in the processing of soft materials, laser metrology, free space communications or laser surgery and therapy. The production of laser sources emitting directly in the region around 2 m can be done from materials doped with thulium (Tm) and holmium (Ho) ions which are particularly attractive because of their high efficiencies and their wide gain bands around 2 m. These ions, already studied in different crystalline matrices and in fibers, have led to commercial lasers operating in continuous or Q-switched mode with powers reaching one kW and beams of very good quality at the diffraction limit. Interest in these ions now focuses on their operation in the ultra-short pulse regime. The potential of such sources in the femtosecond regime, around 2m, is indeed very great. Besides being an area of ​​eye safety, the strong absorption of water in this wavelength range makes these sources very attractive for a number of medical applications, particularly in surgery. Furthermore, selective absorption by certain molecules (H2O, CO2, N2O, etc.) opens up perspectives for the study of the atmosphere with LIDAR-type techniques. In addition, ultrafast lasers emitting at 2 m are highly sought after for pumping OPOs emitting in the mid-IR, in the 3 m - 12 m range, for the generation of supercontinum in the IR, the production of THz sources and molecular spectroscopy. Finally, many other possibilities are available to these new laser sources such as the generation of XUV radiation or the creation of frequency combs in the MIR for metrology.  The THERMOS project concerns the synthesis and physicochemical characterization of new hybrid thermoelectric materials intended to be used in a temperature range from ambient to 200°C. The synthesized materials will aim to replace bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) which is to date the only material usable in this temperature range but this has the disadvantage of containing rare, expensive and toxic elements. Due to their chemical nature, hybrid materials are particularly well suited to low temperature applications. The strategy used to develop this project will consist of interposing organic molecules, insulating or conductive, into inorganic sheets of MS2 type (M=W, Mo, Ti) in order to combine high electrical conductivity and low thermal conductivity.
Smarter Europe / Research and innovation / Research and innovation activities in public research centres and centres of competence including networking