 His experimental work in thermochemistry was summarised in a doctorate thesis.In 1893 Matignon became a lecturer at the University of Lille and in 1894 Director of bleaching, dyeing and finishing at the Institut Industriel du Nord.In 1898, he was appointed a lecturer at the Sorbonne and an assistant professor at the Collège de France, where he later served as Chair of Inorganic Chemistry from 1908 till his death.