Antoine Brézault completed his thesis from the University of Bordeaux entitled “Stimulatable Supramolecular Microgels: From Microstructure Control to the Study of Their Behavior at Interfaces” at the Paul Pascal Research Center in collaboration with the NSysa Group from ISM and the Soft Matter Science and Engineering Laboratory (SIMM) in Paris. Supervised by Véronique Schmitt, Valérie Ravaine, Nicolas Sanson, and Patrick Perrin, this thesis was funded by a Special Normalien Doctoral Contract (CDSN) obtained by Antoine.

This work initially focused on developing the synthesis of original supramolecular microgels to obtain properties that are rich from both a fundamental and an applied perspective. Indeed, thanks to a new and ingenious mastery of this synthesis and the development of the first simple universal model explaining its mechanism, microgels with perfectly controlled size and internal structure were synthesized. This led to remarkable advances in the understanding of the complex mechanisms of emulsion stabilization by these microgels, which had been a challenge in the literature for more than twenty years.   

In addition, the original incorporation of supramolecular bonds into these microgels made them degradable by oxidation. The controlled kinetics of microgel degradation also allowed for on-demand destabilization of the emulsions they stabilized, paving the way for applications in drug delivery and the agri-food industry.

Finally, one of the first systematic studies of the impact of microgel parameters on foam stabilization was carried out. These results, which were initially fundamental, were then applied to the development of an eco-friendly process for recycling precious metals contained in electronic waste.

This work was awarded the 2025 National Thesis Prize by the French Polymer Group (GFP). Antoine and the supervisory team would like to thank the GFP’s teaching committee for this award and for the interest it has shown in this thesis, which they enjoyed working on together.