Ivana Hasa is an Associate Professor of Electrochemical Materials at WMG, University of Warwick (UK). She earned her PhD in 2015 from Sapienza University of Rome (Italy), specializing in the design and characterization of sodium-ion battery materials. She gained extensive experience in electrochemical energy storage through postdoctoral roles at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (USA) and Helmholtz Institute Ulm (Germany) before joining WMG in 2020 as Assistant Professor.
Her research activities are directed toward the understanding of the processes governing the chemistry of the next generation, sustainable battery chemistries. Electrochemical characterization of battery materials and physical-chemical investigation of bulk degradation mechanisms and interface instability are at the core of her research interest. Having worked on sodium-ion batteries since 2012, she brings her expertise in sodium-ion chemistries and her chemical approach to addressing upscaling challenges within the EPISODE project.
What was your original motivation to pursue a career in academia?
I have always admired those who question assumptions and seek evidence, driven by curiosity over convenience. This spirit of inquiry, the exchange of ideas, the challenge of proving hypotheses, and the thrill of discovery, is what drew me to research. Scientific dialogue is not just a method to me; it is what makes the work meaningful. Being part of the battery research community is especially rewarding. It’s a field central to the energy transition, where innovation and collaboration are key. I have been fortunate to have inspiring mentors who encouraged me to contribute to this impactful area.
What is your (main) research area today?
Within my research group, we are actively investigating innovative battery chemistries, advanced materials, and next-generation manufacturing processes to drive progress in sustainable energy storage solutions. A key area of focus is sodium-ion batteries, where we aim to overcome current limitations and unlock its full potential. At the Energy Innovation Centre in WMG, we are also working toward the development and scale up of battery chemistries from concept to full proven cell prototypes with a focus on manufacturing/performance relationship.
What is the main focus of you and your team in episode?
Within EPISODE, we are leading Work Package 2, which focuses on “Materials, Electrodes, and Cells: Upscaled Process Development”. Our work focuses on identifying and overcoming processability challenges that hinder the integration of selected materials into upscaled cell prototypes. By investigating the structure–property relationships of these materials, we aim to establish a clear link between manufacturing processes and electrochemical performance, ultimately optimizing cell performance to meet the project’s targeted specifications.
From all your activities within the project, what are you the most proud of/keen of to share with the public?
Bridging the gap between academic discovery and industrial innovation is one of the most complex and exciting challenges in research. Gaining a deep understanding of material properties, their processability, and successful integration into upscaled electrodes and cell prototypes is both technically demanding and highly rewarding. I look forward to validating lab-scale results in industrially relevant cell prototypes and sharing the outcomes of the EPISODE project with the wider community.
How do you expect the episode results will impact your organisation and the battery sector in Europe?
Contributing to the development of sodium-ion battery systems positions WMG at the forefront of technological advancement in the rapidly growing energy storage field. The project’s collaborative, multidisciplinary approach will strengthen WMG’s leadership in the field, expand capabilities, and support the training of future researchers. By blending academic excellence with industrial expertise, WMG is well-positioned to drive the innovation of sustainable sodium-ion batteries.
