Abstract: The present invention relates to an atomic force microscope for evaluating a surface of a sample, comprising a sample holder, having a first zone suitable for receiving the sample mounted in a stationary manner, a probe having a tip able to be positioned facing the surface of the sample, the microscope being configured to allow an adjustment of a position of the tip relative to the surface, and a support, the sample holder having at least one second zone, separate from the first zone and stationary relative to the support, the sample holder being deformable so as to allow a relative movement of the first zone with respect to the second zone, and the microscope comprising a detector able to detect a movement of the first zone relative to the second zone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a purification/filtration system using reverse electro-osmotic flow through a composite or hybrid membrane element. The invention also relates to a process for purifying an electrolyte solution using such system. The invention further relates to a water purification system, a water desalination system and an implantable artificial kidney, comprising a reverse electro-osmotic filtration system according to the invention.

Abstract: A method for producing electrical energy. An electrolyte solution having a first concentration CA of a solute is placed in a first vessel having an electrode arranged so the electrode is contacted with the electrolyte solution of concentration CA. An electrolyte solution having a concentration CB of the same solute is placed in a second vessel having an electrode arranged so the electrode comes in contact with the electrolyte solution of concentration CB, the concentration CB being lower than the concentration CA. The first and the second vessels are separated by a membrane, the membrane having at least one nanochannel arranged to allow diffusion of the electrolyte solution from the first vessel to the second vessel through the at least one nanochannel. An inner surface of the at least one nanochannel is formed of at least one titanium oxide. Electrical energy generated by a potential difference existing between the electrodes is captured using a device having the first and second vessels.

Abstract: The invention relates to the extraction of organic compounds from mixtures of said compounds with water, using a nanoporous carbon membrane. The invention can be used in any field where it is desired to separate an organic compound of interest from water, such as the drying of alcohols or alkanes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an atomic force microscope for evaluating a surface of a sample, comprising a sample holder, having a first zone suitable for receiving the sample mounted in a stationary manner, a probe having a tip able to be positioned facing the surface of the sample, the microscope being configured to allow an adjustment of a position of the tip relative to the surface, and a support, the sample holder having at least one second zone, separate from the first zone and stationary relative to the support, the sample holder being deformable so as to allow a relative movement of the first zone with respect to the second zone, and the microscope comprising a detector able to detect a movement of the first zone relative to the second zone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for controlled deposition of a fluid on a substrate and also to a method employing the system. The system comprises: a nanoinjector, a mechanical resonator fixed to the nanoinjector, the mechanical resonator being adapted to detect contact between the nanoinjector and the substrate, control means of the mechanical resonator comprising: an excitation means adapted to cause the mechanical resonator to oscillate at an oscillation frequency (fi), a detector means adapted to detect the oscillation of the mechanical resonator, a regulator means adapted to adjust the contact between the nanoinjector and the substrate by controlling the oscillation of the mechanical resonator.

Abstract: A method for producing electrical energy. An electrolyte solution having a first concentration CA of a solute is placed in a first vessel having an electrode arranged so the electrode is contacted with the electrolyte solution of concentration CA. An electrolyte solution having a concentration CB of the same solute is placed in a second vessel having an electrode arranged so the electrode comes in contact with the electrolyte solution of concentration CB, the concentration CB being lower than the concentration CA. The first and the second vessels are separated by a membrane, the membrane having at least one nanochannel arranged to allow diffusion of the electrolyte solution from the first vessel to the second vessel through the at least one nanochannel. An inner surface of the at least one nanochannel is formed of at least one titanium oxide. Electrical energy generated by a potential difference existing between the electrodes is captured using a device having the first and second vessels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for producing electrical energy, including two vessels A and B intended for each receiving a concentrated electrolyte solution CA and CB in the same solute and each including an electrode arranged so as to come into contact with the electrolyte solution, a membrane separating the two vessels, said membrane including at least one nanochannel arranged to allow the diffusion of the electrolytes from one vessel to the other through said one or more nanochannels, and a device making it possible to supply the electrical energy spontaneously generated by the differential in potential that exists between the two electrodes, characterised in that at least one portion of the inner surface of the one or more nanochannels is essentially made up of at least one titanium oxide. The present invention likewise relates to a method for producing electrical energy using said device.

Abstract: The invention relates to the extraction of organic compounds from mixtures of said compounds with water, using a nanoporous carbon membrane. The invention can be used in any field where it is desired to separate an organic compound of interest from water, such as the drying of alcohols or alkanes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for producing electrical energy, including two vessels A and B intended for each receiving a concentrated electrolyte solution CA and CB in the same solute and each including an electrode arranged so as to come into contact with the electrolyte solution, a membrane separating the two vessels, said membrane including at least one nanochannel arranged to allow the diffusion of the electrolytes from one vessel to the other through said one or more nanochannels, and a device making it possible to supply the electrical energy spontaneously generated by the differential in potential that exists between the two electrodes, characterised in that at least one portion of the inner surface of the one or more nanochannels is essentially made up of at least one titanium oxide. The present invention likewise relates to a method for producing electrical energy using said device.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a device for producing electrical energy comprising two cells intended to contain two solutions of different concentrations of at least one solute and separated by at least one separation membrane in which channels are arranged, each of the cells being provided with an electrode intended to be in contact with the solution that said cell will contain, characterized in that the walls of the channels consist of a material chosen from boron nitride, carbon doped with boron, boron nitride doped with carbon, or any other mixture of the elements boron, carbon and nitrogen, and a method for producing electrical energy that implements such a device.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a device for producing electrical energy comprising two cells intended to contain two solutions of different concentrations of at least one solute and separated by at least one separation membrane in which channels are arranged, each of the cells being provided with an electrode intended to be in contact with the solution that said cell will contain, characterised in that the walls of the channels consist of a material chosen from boron nitride, carbon doped with boron, boron nitride doped with carbon, or any other mixture of the elements boron, carbon and nitrogen, and a method for producing electrical energy that implements such a device.

Abstract: The instant disclosure describes an optical device for the interferometric analysis of the surface condition of an object, including: a light source; an optical fiber capable of receiving the incident light wave and transmitting said wave to the object; a detector capable of detecting a combination between a light wave reflected by the optical fiber and a light wave returned by the object; and in which the optical fiber has a free end in the shape of a cone, with a vertex angle of between 15 and 25 degrees, the tip of the cone having dimensions of less than 50×50 nm, and the tip of the cone being placed, while in use, at a distance of between 5 and 50 ?m from the surface of the object.

Abstract: The instant disclosure describes an optical device for the interferometric analysis of the surface condition of an object, including: a light source; an optical fibre capable of receiving the incident light wave and transmitting said wave to the object; a detector capable of detecting a combination between a light wave reflected by the optical fibre and a light wave returned by the object; and in which the optical fibre has a free end in the shape of a cone, with a vertex angle of between 15 and 25 degrees, the tip of the cone having dimensions of less than 50×50 nm, and the tip of the cone being placed, while in use, at a distance of between 5 and 50 ?m from the surface of the object.