M. Fabien Giovannelli

Tél

0254552110

Mail

fabien.giovannelli@univ-tours.fr

Expertise:

• Synthesis of  oxide and hydroxide nanoparticles by precipitation
• Physical properties studies of ferroelectric and thermoelectric materials
• Thermal conductivity measurements by Laser Flash Analysis
• Sintering , structure and microstructure characterisation of ceramics
• Elaboration of oxides single crystals

Whilst at LEMA, and subsequently at GREMAN, I played an active role in establishing the research laboratory at the Blois IUT. I am involved in new areas of research such as crystal growth, green chemistry synthesis, thermoelectricity and piezoelectricity. I developed research into thermoelectric oxides from 2011 onwards, pursuing two distinct avenues: the first aims to improve the properties of previously known compounds through various approaches (substitutions, nanostructuring, composites, etc.), whilst the second seeks to identify new compounds with better properties than those of currently known phases. This research has enabled me to establish various collaborations (BAM (Berlin), IJS (Slovenia), CRISMAT (Caen), AIST (Japan), HZB (Berlin), LDOF (Le Mans), GREMI (Orléans) and LSPM (Villetaneuse)), notably within the framework of five projects: SYNAPS (HUTCHINSON), SONATE (ADEME-TOTAL), LOTTE (ST Microelectronics), CITRON (university) and METEO (Centre Region), and has resulted in 30 articles in international journals. The development of this research area required the acquisition of thermoelectric characterisation equipment (ZEM 3, LFA, DSC) through various sources of funding.
Following the establishment of GREMAN in 2012, my research has also focused on lead-free piezoelectric materials (KNN, BCTZ, BT, SBN, etc.). We have succeeded in achieving good piezoelectric coefficients in these ceramics and have even gone so far as to fabricate a KNN-based transducer. We have also demonstrated the hierarchical organisation of piezoelectric domains in KNN crystals. I was awarded the ANR SYMPATI grant for the synthesis of a new piezoelectric material based on divalent tin using mild chemistry and its sintering via SPS. This work has enabled me to develop various collaborations (IJS (Slovenia), University of Oslo (Sweden), ICMAB (Spain), ISTO (Orléans), LSPM (Villetaneuse), University of Sheffield (UK), CRISMAT (Caen)), notably within the framework of six projects (Regional, ANR, European) and have resulted in 15 articles in international journals.
As part of G. Nataf’s ERC Starting Grant, I contributed to the study of the thermal properties of ferroelectric materials. This research area, situated at the interface between my two main fields of interest, enabled me to combine my knowledge of thermal conductivity and ferroelectricity, acquired through my work in thermoelectricity and piezoelectricity.
I expanded my expertise in thermal conductivity from 2024 onwards by developing thermal diffusivity measurements of barocaloric materials in collaboration with the ICMCB (Bordeaux), the University of Catalonia (Spain) and the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia) (2 publications, 1 ANR grant and 1 European project).
Over the past 15 years, I have led 12 research projects funded by various sources (ANR, the region, industry, ADEME, Europe). As part of this work, I have supervised 7 PhD students, 7 postdoctoral researchers, 9 assistant lecturers and a number of interns. I have published the results of my research in over one hundred publications.
I have been in charge of the Blois branch of GREMAN since its inception until 2025, and since 2015 I have been co-leader of one of GREMAN’s research teams.

5 representative publications

- R. Belrhiti-Nejjar, M. Zahn, P. Limelette, M. Haas, L. Féger, I.Monot-Laffez, N. Horny, D. Meier, F. Giovannelli, J. Schultheiß,  G. F. Nataf- Domain-Wall Driven Suppression of Thermal Conductivity in a Ferroelectric Polycrystal- Adv. Sci. 2025, 12, e06931

- A.Salvatori, D. Aguila, G. Aromı, L. Mañosa, A. Planes, P Lloveras, L. C. Pardo, M. Appel, G. F. Nataf, F. Giovannelli, M. Barrio, J. L. Tamarit, M. Romanini - Large barocaloric effects in two novel ferroelectric molecular plastic crystals- Journal of Materials Chemistry A 2023, 11, 1214

- H. Bouteiller, R. Burcea, C. Poterie, D. Fournier, F. Giovannelli, J. Nyman , Y. Ezzahri, S. Dubois, P. Eklund, A. le Febvrier, J-F Barbot - Improving the thermoelectric performance of scandium nitride thin films by implanting helium ions- Communications Materials 2025, 6,

- E. Bsaibess , F. Delorme , I. Monot-Laffez , F. Giovannelli -  Ultra-low thermal conductivity in scheelite and A-deficient scheelite ceramics- Scripta Materialia 201 (2021) 113950

- M. Dubernet, M. J. Pitcher, M. Zaghrioui, M. Bah, J. Bustillo, F. Giovannelli, I. Monot-Laffez-Synthesis routes for enhanced piezoelectric properties in spark plasma sintered Ta-doped KNN ceramics. J Eur. Ceram Soc. 42 (2022) 2188-2194.