Céline Molinaro

I am a CNRS Researcher at Institut de Science des Matériaux de Mulhouse (IS2M) in Mulhouse (France), bridging thermoplasmonics and polymer chemistry.

Metal nanoparticles (NPs) derive their unique properties from their plasmonic behavior. Under precise illumination, they give rise to localized surface plasmons, a collective oscillation of electrons at the metal-dielectric interface. This interaction triggers three distinct phenomena: an intense amplification of the local electromagnetic field, the creation of electron-hole pairs, and the release of heat.

Figure: Thermal polymerization via thermoplasmonics at the millimeter scale (a) and nanometer scale (b).

My research focuses on this thermal effect, called thermoplasmonics. My goal is to observe how heat is generated by nanoparticles, specifically by using thermally iniated polymers that map the temperature of the NPs after illumination: both at the millimeter and nanometer scales (see figure above). These polymers also play a dual role by enabling the formation of hybrid nanoparticles.

Background

Hiring

M2 internship offer - Early 2026 - Temperature probes based on polymer for thermoplasmonics

Contact

celine [dot] molinaro [at] uha [dot] fr
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Publications

Unveiling Localized Plasmonic Activation comparing Photochemically and Thermally Initiated Polymerization
A. Khitous, C. Molinaro*, M. Vega, S. Abdallah, J-P. Malval, S. Marguet, J-F. Bryche, O. Soppera*
ChemRxiv, 10.26434/chemrxiv-2024-db2mp-v2

[16] Controlled polymerization at macroscale and nanoscale through thermoplasmonics
C. Molinaro*, A. Khitous, M. Bastide, O. Soppera
Plasmonics, accepted, 2025

[15] Gold nanoparticles combined with Ultrafine TiO2 layer: a reliable probe for Raman thermometry
A. Khitous, C. Molinaro*, A. Rumyantseva, S. Kostcheev, P-M. Adam, R. Bachelot, O. Soppera*
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 27, 20817-20827, 2025

[14] Spatially controlled Plasmon-induced photopolymerization at the apex of gold nanobipyramids: paving the road towards 3D nanofabrication
A. Khitous, C. Molinaro, L. Vidal, S. Abdalllay, A. Désert, F. Lerouge, J-P. Malval, S. Parola, O. Soppera*
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 27, 16989-16995, 2025

[13] Spatial Distribution of the Photopolymerization Induced by Localized Surface Plasmons: Impact of the Morphology of the Au Nanoparticles
A. Khitous, C. Molinaro, S. Abdallah, M. Chen, S. Marguet, G. Laurent, L. Vidal, J-P. Malval, C. Fiorini-Debuisschert, P-M. Adam, L. Douillard, R.Bachelot, O. Soppera*
The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 128(31), 13097-13107, 2024

[12] Chemical Method Based on Thermally Activated Free Radical Polymerization to Determine the Temperature in Thermoplasmonics
C. Molinaro*, A. Khitous, O. Soppera
ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 6(9), 5331-5338, 2024

[11] Sol-gel TiO2 thin film on Au nanoparticles for heterogeneous plasmonic photocatalysis
A. Khitous, L. Noel, C. Molinaro, L. Vidal, S. Grée, O. Soppera*
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 16(8), 10856-10866, 2024

[10] Laser direct writing of crystallized TiO2 by photothermal effect induced by gold nanoparticles
L. Noel, A. Khitous, C. Molinaro, H-W. Zan, D. Berling, F. Grasset, O. Soppera*
Advanced Material Technologies, 9(1), 2300407, 2023

[9] Synthesis and integration of hybrid metal nanoparticles covered with a molecularly imprinted polymer nanolayer by photopolymeristion
A. Khitous*, C. Molinaro, C. Thomas, K. Haupt, O. Soppera*
Sensors, 23(8), 3995, 2023

[8] Plasmon-Induced Photopolymerization of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for Nanosensor Applications
A. Khitous, C. Molinaro, S. Gree, K. Haupt, O. Soppera*
Advanced Materials interface, 10(7), 2023

[7] Life at high temperature observed in vitro upon laser heating of gold nanoparticles
C. Molinaro1, M. Benefice1, A. Gorlas, V. Da Cunha, H. Robert, R. Catchpole, L. Gallais, P. Forterre, G. Baffou* Nature Communications, 13, 5342, 2022

[6] Are bacteria claustrophobic? The problem of micrometric spatial confinement for the culture of micro-organisms
C. Molinaro*, V. Da Cunha, A. Gorlas, F. Iv, L. Gallais, R. Catchpole, P. Forterre, G. Baffou*
RSC Advances, 11, 12500, 2021

[5] Label-free, quantitative and sensitive detection of nanoparticle/membrane interactions through the optical response of water
C. Molinaro, F. Cecchet,
Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 289, 169-174, 2019

[4] Interfacial charges drive the organization of supported lipid membranes and their interaction with nanoparticles
X. Toledo-Fuentes1, C. Molinaro1, F. Cecchet*
Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 172, 254-261, 2018

[3] From plasmon-induced luminescence in gold nanorods to plasmon-induced luminescence turn-off: a way to control reshaping
C. Molinaro*, S. Marguet, L. Douillard, F. Charra, C. Fiorini-Debuisschert*
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 20(17), 12295-12302, 2018

[2]Oriented gold nanorods and gold nanorod chains within smectic liquid crystal topological defects
B. Rožič*, J. Fresnais, C. Molinaro, J. Calixte, S. Umadevi, S. Lau-Truang, N. Félidj, T. Krauss, F. Charra, V. Dupuis, T. Hegmann, C. Fiorini-Debuisschert, B. Gallas*, E. Lacaze*
ACS Nano, 11(7), 6728-6738, 2017

[1] Two-photon luminescence of single colloidal gold nanorods: revealing the origin of plasmon relaxation in small gold nanocrystal
C. Molinaro, Y. El Harfouch, E. Palleau, F. Eloi, S. Marguet, L. Douillard, F. Charra, C. Fiorini-Debuisschert*
The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2016, 120(40), 23136-23143

Book chapters

[1] Nanochemistry by thermoplasmonic effects
C. Molinaro, A. Khitous, L. Noel, O. Soppera
Progress in Nanophotonics 7, 2022