Dr. M. B. Sahana is a Senior Scientist working on materials and processes for rechargeable batteries used in electric mobility. She focuses on lithium-ion battery research, especially the development of layered oxide cathode materials and the preparation of high-quality electrode slurries. She works on improving slurry rheology, dispersion, coating quality, drying behavior, and electrode uniformity. She studies how slurry preparation affects electrode cracking, binder distribution, electrolyte interaction, and long-term cycling performance in pouch cells. She develops and tests lithium-ion pouch cells and works on standardizing laboratory procedures for reproducible performance. Her research connects material synthesis, electrode processing, and cell manufacturing in a direct and simple workflow. She works to understand how changes in material properties and processing methods influence final battery cell behaviour. She applies these findings to improve battery performance, stability, energy density, and reliability.

Her research on Li–Na dual-ion systems focuses on understanding and improving the mobility of lithium and sodium cations in both the electrode and the electrolyte. She studies how composition, structure, and processing influence cation transport pathways and interface behaviour during charge and discharge. She examines how electrode microstructure, particle connectivity, and electrolyte chemistry affect ion diffusion, voltage response, and cycling stability. Her goal is to enhance lifetime, capacity retention, and rate performance in Li–Na dual-cation systems by controlling material properties and optimizing electrode–electrolyte interactions. She works to connect ion transport mechanisms at the material level with measurable improvements in full-cell performance.
Her work on solid-state and gel lithium batteries focuses on improving safety and ionic conductivity using different classes of electrolytes. She works on hybrid solid-state electrolytes that combine ceramic and polymer phases. She also works on gel polymer electrolytes with improved mechanical stability and better interface contact with electrodes. She studies how electrolyte composition, microstructure, and processing conditions influence lithium-ion transport and interface resistance. Her goal is to achieve stable cycling at high voltages while minimizing side reactions at electrode surfaces. She continues to develop new electrolyte designs that improve battery safety without sacrificing capacity or rate capability.
She earned her Ph.D. in Materials Science from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. She completed postdoctoral research in the United States and Sweden, where she worked on nanostructured materials, thin films, and advanced characterization. She has supervised Ph.D. students and postgraduate students and has collaborated with national and international partners. She has published widely in peer-reviewed journals and holds a granted patent. Her work continues to support the development of new materials and processes that can be transferred from laboratory research to battery prototypes and future industrial applications.