4. Nanostructured or nanocomposite materials

It is possible to define two classes of solid materials incorporating nano-objects or nanostructures:

• nanostructured materials, whether on the surface (e.g. surface coatings) or in volume (e.g. nanoporous materials);

• nanocomposites: corresponding to a matrix incorporating nano-objects; the matrix can be made of thermoplastic polymers, paper, steel, glass, etc.

In both cases, new properties can be induced by surface and interface properties. In particular, nanoscale structuring leads to a significant increase in exchange surfaces, and thus to a high reactivity of the material with respect to its environment.

• The study of porosity at the nanometer scale is a challenge requiring the determination of the topology and development of the pore...