Physical chemistry at interfaces of polarized glasses – PolarChem

The PolarChem project is based on a pluridisciplinar scientific approach mixing expertises from glass chemistry, surface chemistry, polarization treatments and non linear optics. The main idea at the origin of the project is to use a polarization process in order to activate glass surfaces for a final step of surface chemistry.
A polarization treatment permit to induce a space charge at the surface of an inorganic glass with electric field up to 10^9V/m. Some of our preliminary results have shown that a real control of the polarization mechanisms is possible. By this way, one can by choosing the right glass composition and poling parameters induce locally a space charge and some hydroxyl groups which can be used for surface chemistry engineering.
On the bases of these preliminary results, PolarChem plan to do fundamental studies on macroscopic zones with the aim to (i) optimized glass composition and poling parameters and (ii) characterize the influence of polarization on surface reactivity and molecular arrangements organizations. In parallel, a technical study will be done to transfer this approach in microscopy to define micro-activation processes based on polarization.
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