LESIA is organised into a series of interconnected work packages (WPs) that together form a coherent research and innovation pipeline. Each work package addresses a specific stage of the process—from understanding biological surface functions to fabricating laser-engineered materials and validating them in full battery systems.
Rather than working in isolation, the work packages are tightly linked through continuous feedback loops. This integrated structure ensures that insights gained at one stage directly inform the others.
Focus: Understanding how natural surfaces achieve exceptional functionality
WP1 investigates the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of biological surfaces found in plants and animals. Using advanced metrology and microscopy tools, researchers analyse how hierarchical structures, surface chemistry, and topology contribute to properties such as wettability, adhesion, and durability.
The goal is to extract design principles from nature and translate them into controllable surface architectures suitable for battery materials.
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Focus: Creating precise, scalable, and controllable surface architectures
WP2 develops innovative laser-based manufacturing platforms for fabricating biomimetic surfaces. These include laser interference lithography (LIL) and hybrid approaches that combine laser patterning with electrochemical processes or self-assembly.
This work package explores how laser–material interactions can be exploited to directly form hierarchical structures with controlled geometry and chemistry.
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Focus: Applying functional surfaces to real battery materials
WP3 translates the surfaces developed in WP2 into functional battery components, including metal anodes, ultra-thick cathodes, current collectors, and separators.
By engineering surface geometry and chemistry, this work package addresses key limitations of next-generation batteries such as dendrite formation, poor electrolyte wetting, mechanical degradation, and interfacial instability.
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Focus: Understanding how engineered interfaces perform in real conditions
WP4 evaluates how laser-engineered surfaces influence battery performance. Using advanced operando and non-destructive techniques, researchers observe interfacial processes in real time, including ion transport, mechanical deformation, and interphase formation.
This enables direct links between surface design and electrochemical behaviour.
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