The manuscript of Mrs Marie-Claude Dubois-Clochard reports on the main results obtained in synthesis and structuration of functional polymers at the nanoscale. If the synthesis of functional polymers is the basic of the presented studies, the chronological order of her research activities from 1995 to 2013 shows an evolution from classical polymerisations in solution towards radio-induced polymerisations in confined space controlled by RAFT mechanism. The innovation is about the development of new objects made of polymers and organic/inorganic composites designed at the nanoscale to bring original physical and physico-chemical properties. Three applied fields stand out: Energy-Environment (Engines, Fuel cells, Sensors for water quality), Health (Nanovector for tumour therapies and imaging, Ion and molecules tranlocation through a single nanopore in a polymer membrane) and Nanotechnologies (Magnetoresistance of a single magnetic nanowire). Noteworthy results are: - the setting up of bi-langmuirian adsorption isotherm equations at solid/hydrocarbon interface for macromolecules at low concentrations, and, at high concentration, particular behaviour of reorganisation of these identical macromlecules, not in alternative layers but in reverse hemi-micelles formation. - the synthesis of a novel pH-dégradable polymer allowing an hydrolytic degradation from pH 7.4 (Sang) to pH 5.5 (Intracellular lysosome) to deliver drugs into tumor cells (Santé). - the radiation-induced grafting-through process in solid polymers showed by a cooperative effect of solvent/growing polymer chains into fluoropolymers. - the synthesis of bi-functional nanoporous polymer track-etched membranes having a functionality in the pores and another on the surface. This membrane, after changing in electrode by simple metallisation, has been the subject of valorisation projects to a start-up creation and/or a technological transfer for the development of a sensor able to detect heavy metals ions traces in treated water (Environment). In the same framework, the direct functionalisation of tracks created by Swift Heavy Ions irradiation at GANIL in polymer films has been used to develop new proton exchange membranes for fuel cell (Energy). - Non-described observation of a cooperative effect on ion mobility in a confined space made of a single cylindrical nanopore in a thin polymer membrane. Boost or slow down effect on ions mobility in this single nanopore of charged walls depends only on the chemical nature of the ions and their concentration. - Observation of jumps in the resistance of a biconical magnetic nanowire under a magnetic field (constriction size of 10 nm) beyond the magnetoresistance effect. These jumps depend both on the geometry of the system and the intensity of the injected current. Relaxation effects before and after a jump show an energy-activated system. - Nanopore size tuning of a polymer membrane by radio-induced polymerisation controlled by RAFT mechanism.
From classical polymerisations in solution towards radio-induced polymerisations controlled in confined space