About LESIA

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Why LESIA?

As Europe moves towards a climate-neutral society, advanced energy storage is becoming increasingly vital. While renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power are expanding rapidly, their intermittency requires batteries that can store more energy, last longer, and operate more safely. Many of the fundamental limitations of today’s batteries originate at the microscopic scale, where complex electrochemical reactions occur at the surfaces and interfaces of electrodes and electrolytes.

LESIA focuses precisely on these critical regions. By engineering battery surfaces and interfaces with unprecedented precision, the project seeks to overcome key challenges such as degradation, instability, and limited energy density.

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A bio-inspired and laser-based approach

Nature offers countless examples of highly functional surfaces, optimised over millions of years to control adhesion, wettability, transport, and mechanical resilience. LESIA draws inspiration from these systems to design advanced, hierarchical surface architectures for battery materials.

To realise these designs, the project develops innovative fabrication methods based on laser interference lithography and its integration with electrochemical processing and self-assembly. These approaches enable the scalable production of highly ordered micro- and nanostructures with precise control over geometry and chemistry—capabilities that go far beyond conventional surface modification techniques.

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Understanding batteries in real time

LESIA combines fabrication with state-of-the-art operando and non-destructive characterisation techniques. By observing battery interfaces in real time and across multiple length scales, the project reveals how structure, chemistry, and electrochemical behaviour are interconnected. This knowledge feeds directly back into improved material and device design.

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A collaborative and training-focused network

Beyond its scientific objectives, LESIA is an interdisciplinary and international training initiative. Through staff exchanges, joint research activities, and dedicated workshops, the project promotes long-term collaboration and equips researchers with a unique skill set spanning surface science, laser manufacturing, electrochemistry, and advanced microscopy.

By integrating fundamental research with technological innovation, LESIA contributes to Europe’s leadership in clean energy technologies and supports the transition to a more sustainable future.