In the past few years, Dr Gilles Sèbe used different functionalization strategies – e.g. acylation, silylation, and polymer grafting - to produce nanocellulose particles with various tailored surface properties, which could find application in different domains. In particular, he developed systems where nanocelluloses could serve as valuable reinforcing and barrier agents in nanocomposites, Pickering emulsifiers, porous scaffolds, or catalyst supports.
In 2008, he was appointed Adjunct Associate Professor at the Department of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries of the University of Tennessee (Knoxville, USA). He was also nominated French representative at the Management Committees of two European Actions COST : FP1006 “Bringing new functions to wood through surface modification” (2011-2014) and FP1205 “Innovative applications of regenerated wood cellulose fibres” (2013-2017).