Synthetic crystals are essential yet little-known materials, at the heart of strategic industrial and sovereignty issues. From the luxury industry to defense, from smartphones to renewable energies and medicine, these precious materials irrigate the technologies of today and tomorrow. The ambition of this exhibition is to raise awareness of their existence and their importance, and to show the scientific and technological skills present on the national territory.
Indispensable in daily applications as well as in advanced applications, the critical nature of these synthetic crystals has been highlighted by the supply difficulties during the confinements. Strategic, they are as much for national policy in the face of climate change as for the sovereignty of France and Europe in defense and space.
The mineralogical museum of Mines Paris - PSL offers a prestigious setting to discover the particularities of these synthetic crystals.
In order to better understand the technological issues and to show their uses, more than 80 objects illustrate their properties, manufacture, applications and potential for innovation. Divided into 5 themes, visitors discover in turn quartz and its piezoelectric properties, photovoltaic crystals at the service of the energy transition, optical crystals that allow us to see ever further, semiconductors at the heart of microelectronic chips, and last but not lease, the sparkle of crystals for luxury.
This exhibition is also an opportunity to present a cutting-edge French sector through the twenty participating partners, manufacturers, technological institutes and laboratories. The industrial revival of this sector, the transmission of know-how, innovations and investments in favor of the environment are supported by the institutions of defence, space, industry and the region.
20 partners - laboratories, technological institutes, manufacturers and national agencies - have come together around CRISTAL INNOV and 2 CARNOT institutes to present the diversity and dynamism of this cutting-edge French industry.
CRISTAL INNOV, the Mineralogy Museum de Mines Paris - PSL and their partners: INSTITUTS CARNOT M.I.N.E.S & INGENIERIE@LYON
CRISTAL INNOV
A platform for technological innovation in crystals and processes, CRISTAL INNOV brings together the main players in the synthetic crystal sector, covering the entire technological chain, from R&D laboratories to production.
Specialized in piezoelectric crystals, CRISTAL INNOV is the only European producer of PURE PREMIUM quality quartz and crystals resistant to very high temperatures.
CRYSTALS PRODUCERS: INDUSTRIAL AND START-UPS
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Unique European manufacturer of Nonlinear Optical components based on KTP, KTA, RTP and LBO crystals |
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French creator of exceptional synthetic diamonds |
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Specialist in InP substrates (Indium Phosphide Crystal) |
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Specialized in Silicon Carbide (SiC) for electric vehicles |
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Synthetic diamond technology at the service of high power |
MANUFACTURERS specialized in PROCESSES and DEVICES
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Specialist in oscillators and quartz filters for Defense and Aerospace applications |
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Synthetic sapphire engraving for information storage (archiving, family tree, jewelry) |
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Polishing of substrates for epitaxy (SiC, GaN, etc.) |
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World leader in innovative semiconductor materials |
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Specialized in the cutting and processing of synthetic quartz |
LABORATORIES AND TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTES
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CARNOT INSTITUT - LETI (Laboratoire d'Electronique) of the CEA |
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CEA at the "Institut National d'Energie Solaire" |
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ONERA |
National center for space research |
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"Institut Lumière Matière" (CNRS - UCBL - UDL) |
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"Laboratoire des Multimatériaux et Interfaces" (CNRS - UCBL) |
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"Institut d'Electronique et des Systèmes" (CNRS - University of Montpellier) |
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Laboratory of "Science et Ingénierie des Matériaux et Procédés" (Grenoble INP & UGA) |
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FEMTO-Science and Technology Institute - Time - Frequency department |
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University of Timisoara - materials physics and renewable energy laboratory |
INSTITUTIONS
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"Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1" |
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"Direction Générale de l'Armement" |
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"Agence d'Innovation en Défense" |
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"Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales" |
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Companies, economic players and institutions wishing to develop French industry. |
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French sector of synthetic crystals at the service of design and luxury |
Any questions about the museum or the collection ? Contact us
Find all the information to come to the Mineralogy Museum here
Musée de Minéralogie
Mines Paris - PSL
60 boulevard Saint Michel
75006 Paris
OPENING HOURS:
TUESDAY: 10am - 12pm and 1:30pm - 6pm.
WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY: 1:30pm - 6pm
SATURDAY: 10am - 12:30pm and 2pm - 5pm
Closed on National Holidays, Sundays and Mondays
Find all our temporary exhibits and special events here
