Abstract: The invention relates to textile fibers at least partially covered with a nanometric-sized semiconducting material having photocatalytic properties for degrading chemical compounds, in particular chemical or biological agents, wherein said semiconducting material is in the form of nanostructure or nanocomposites with a one-dimensional morphology. The textile fibers can be used for application in the military, medical, and civilian domains, etc. The curves 60 and 62 respectively show the photocatalytic degradation of organic compounds at the surface of textile fibers covered with nanostructures or nanocomposites having a one-dimensional morphology according to the invention, and nanoparticles having a granular morphology according to the prior art. The nanostructures are nanocomposites of the invention 60 are more efficient.

Abstract: An artificial retina that includes: (i) a substrate; (ii) a first layer, placed onto said substrate and including photovoltaic material portions separated by at least one insulating material portion; and (iii) a second layer, placed onto said first layer and including conductive material portions separated by at least one insulating material portion. In said artificial retina, the photovoltaic material includes a titanium dioxide semiconductor.

Abstract: An electromechanical actuator comprising an electric motor (11) for driving an output shaft (4) in rotation via a reduction gear (20) and passive regulation stage (30) allowing for control of the speed of rotation of the output shaft. A braking member is arranged between an output of the reduction gear and the output shaft to be driven, the braking member being arranged to ensure two different braking levels depending on the direction of rotation of the shaft. The braking member is of hydraulic type and comprises a paddle (33) for transferring fluid between two chambers (34, 35) under the effect of the rotation of the output shaft, transferred fluid passing through a selective drawing member (41) which, depending on the direction of rotation of the actuator, opposes two distinct resistances to the decantation of the fluid from one chamber to the other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photocatalyst comprising a ?-SiC cellular foam and a photocatalytically active phase, deposited directly on said cellular foam or on an intermediate phase deposited on said cellular foam. The average size of the cells is between 2500 ?m and 5000 ?m. The foam can comprise nanotubes or nanofibers (particularly of carbon, SiC, and TiO2) that consist of, or carry as an intermediate phase, a photocatalytically active phase.

Abstract: A method of operating an aircraft landing gear between a deployed position and a retracted position. The landing gear comprises a leg hinged to the aircraft, the leg being stabilized in the deployed position by a folding strut comprising two hinged-together links, the strut being held in an aligned position by a stabilizer member comprising two hinged-together links themselves held in alignment by a locking member. The method comprises the steps of arranging the strut (2; 102) and the stabilizer member (4; 104) in such a manner that at least one of the links (4a; 104a) of the stabilizer member moves continuously during a movement of the leg from the deployed position to the retracted position, and of attaching an operating actuator (10; 110) to the link in order to cause the link to pivot against the locking member and to exert thereon a force tending to move the leg.

Abstract: The invention relates to a chemical reactor with a nanometric superstructure, comprising at least one member wherein at least one reaction chamber is arranged, and said reaction chamber being filled at least partially with a high specific surface area material having a specific surface area greater than 5 m2/g, and characterized in that said high specific surface area material is selected from nanotubes or nanofibers. These nanotubes or nanofibers are preferably selected in the group consisting of carbon nanofibers or nanotubes, ?-SiC nanofibers or nanotubes, TiO2 nanofibers or nanotubes. They may be deposited on an intermediate structure selected in the group consisting of glass fibers, carbon fibers, SiC foams, carbon foams, alveolar ?-SiC foams, said intermediate structure filling the reaction chamber of said reactor at least partially.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electromechanical actuator comprising an electric motor (11) for driving an output shaft (4) in rotation via a reduction gear (20) and passive regulation means (30) allowing for control of the speed of rotation of the output shaft, and comprising a braking member (30), arranged between an output of the reduction gear and the output shaft to be driven, said braking member being arranged to ensure two different braking levels depending on the direction of rotation of the shaft, characterized in that the braking member is of hydraulic type and comprises fluid decantation means (33) between two chambers (34, 35) decanting under the effect of the rotation of the output shaft through a selective drawing member (41) which, depending on the direction of rotation of the actuator, opposes two distinct resistances to the decantation of the fluid from one chamber to the other.

Abstract: An artificial retina that includes: (i) a substrate; (ii) a first layer, placed onto said substrate and including photovoltaic material portions separated by at least one insulating material portion; and (iii) a second layer, placed onto said first layer and including conductive material portions separated by at least one insulating material portion. In said artificial retina, the photovoltaic material includes a titanium dioxide semiconductor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to catalytic compositions for, inter alia, the photocatalytic oxidation of CO, including: a substrate including, at least at a surface thereof, titanium oxide; and, deposited on the titanium oxide on the surface of the substrate, a metal mixture containing: platinum, at least partially in the metal state; and palladium and/or nickel, at least partially in the metal state. More specifically, the invention relates to the use of said compositions for treating gaseous media including CO and organic pollutants, for example indoor air in inhabited buildings or vehicles.

Abstract: A method of operating an aircraft landing gear between a deployed position and a retracted position. The landing gear comprises a leg hinged to the aircraft, the leg being stabilized in the deployed position by a folding strut comprising two hinged-together links, the strut being held in an aligned position by a stabilizer member comprising two hinged-together links themselves held in alignment by a locking member. The method comprises the steps of arranging the strut (2; 102) and the stabilizer member (4; 104) in such a manner that at least one of the links (4a; 104a) of the stabilizer member moves continuously during a movement of the leg from the deployed position to the retracted position, and of attaching an operating actuator (10; 110) to the link in order to cause the link to pivot against the locking member and to exert thereon a force tending to move the leg.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photocatalyst comprising a ?-SiC cellular foam and a photocatalytically active phase, deposited directly on said cellular foam or on an intermediate phase deposited on said cellular foam. The average size of the cells is between 2500 ?m and 5000 ?m. The foam can comprise nanotubes or nanofibers (particularly of carbon, SiC, and TiO2) that consist of, or carry as an intermediate phase, a photocatalytically active phase.

Abstract: The invention relates to textile fibers at least partially covered with a nanometric-sized semiconducting material having photocatalytic properties for degrading chemical compounds, in particular chemical or biological agents, wherein said semiconducting material is in the form of nanostructure or nanocomposites with a one-dimensional morphology. The textile fibers can be used for application in the military, medical, and civilian domains, etc. The curves 60 and 62 respectively show the photocatalytic degradation of organic compounds at the surface of textile fibers covered with nanostructures or nanocomposites having a one-dimensional morphology according to the invention, and nanoparticles having a granular morphology according to the prior art. The nanostructures are nanocomposites of the invention 60 are more efficient.

Abstract: The invention relates to a chemical reactor with a nanometric superstructure, comprising at least one member wherein at least one reaction chamber is arranged, and said reaction chamber being filled at least partially with a high specific surface area material having a specific surface area greater than 5 m2/g, and characterised in that said high specific surface area material is selected from nanotubes or nanofibres. These nanotubes or nanofibres are preferably selected in the group consisting of carbon nanofibres or nanotubes, ?-SiC nanofibres or nanotubes, TiO2 nanofibres or nanotubes. They may be deposited on an intermediate structure selected in the group consisting of glass fibres, carbon fibres, SiC foams, carbon foams, alveolar ?-SiC foams, said intermediate structure filling the reaction chamber of said reactor at least partially.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photocatalyst comprising a cellular foam selected from carbon foam and the foam of a carbon material, such as a polymer, and a photocatalytically active phase, deposited directly on said cellular foam or on an intermediate phase deposited on said cellular foam. The average size of the cells is between 2500 ?m and 5000 ?m. The foam can comprise nanotubes or nanofibers (in particular TiO2).

Abstract: A method for inactivating biological agents dispersed within a gaseous medium includes a step which consists in treating the gas flow with a photoactivated semiconductor, in particular with photoactivated titanium oxide. The invention also concerns a device for implementing the method, as well as the method for decontaminating gaseous medium containing harmful, toxic or pathogenic biological agents, such as bacteria.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for so-called two-phase impregnation of a ?-SiC support with high specific surface area, said method comprising at least the following steps: (a) a first impregnating at least once said support with a polar agent A, (b) a second impregnating which consists in impregnating at least once said support with at least an agent B less polar than agent A. Said method enables the production of novel catalysts for heterogeneous catalysis.

Abstract: A process for catalytically oxidizing H2S contained in a gas directly to sulphur containing the following steps: combining the H2S-containing gas with a gas containing free oxygen in an amount to produce an oxygen-enriched H2S-containing gas having O2/H2S molar ratio ranging from about 0.05 to about 15; and contacting the oxygen-enriched H2S-containing gas with a catalyst for selective oxidation of H2S to sulphur, wherein the catalyst includes a catalytically active phase combined with a silicon carbide-based support and wherein the active phase of the catalyst consists of at least one oxysulphide of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of iron, copper, nickel, cobalt, chromium, molybdenum and tungsten, at a temperature above the dew point of sulphur formed during H2S oxidation.