We present a simplified approach to evaluate the thermal conductivity of insulating crystals, taking into account chemical and structural properties. We complete the thermal conductivity evaluation in the case of point defects encountered in luminescent materials. Thermal conductivity coefficients have been determined by photothermal experiments and are in good agreement with the predicted values in Yb:Y3Al5O12 and Yb:Gd3Ga5O12 solid-state lasers.

Electrogeneration of reducers at a microelectrode allows us to locally debrominate a surface bound polymerization initiator. Once submitted to atom transfer radical polymerization, patterns of nanometer polymer structures are formed on the surfaces. The surface reduction rate, controlled by the microelectrode scan rate and the reducer strength, affects the dimensions of the patterns. The reducer strength allows to tune the surface density of the initiator layer and then the elongation of the polymer brushes grown in the locally etched regions.