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: 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 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 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: 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: A nanocomposite, comprising single-wall and/or multi-wall one-dimensional nanomaterials, and at least one nanooxide of at least one transition metal, said nanooxide filling said nanotubes and covering their walls. A process for preparing such a nanocomposite and an optical limiting device comprising such a nanocomposite in suspension in a medium that is transparent to visible and infrared radiation are disclosed.

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.