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NEW DELHI, MAY 19, 2025
As the world accelerates toward electrification — from vehicles to remote villages—the demand for affordable, efficient, and safe energy storage is more urgent than ever. While lithium-ion batteries have driven much of this progress, their high cost and limited global availability have posed significant challenges. Now, scientists in Bengaluru may have unlocked a promising alternative that could transform the energy landscape.
A team of researchers at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has developed a cutting-edge sodium-ion battery (SIB) that offers rapid charging and long life. This new battery can charge up to 80% in just six minutes and withstand more than 3,000 charge cycles — an impressive feat for sodium-based technology.
Traditional sodium-ion batteries have struggled with slow charging speeds and limited durability. However, the JNCASR team, led by Professor Premkumar Senguttuvan and Ph.D. scholar Biplab Patra, overcame these limitations by innovating at the material level. They developed a novel anode material — Na₁.₀V₀.₂₅Al₀.₂₅Nb₁.₅(PO₄)₃ — and enhanced its performance in three key ways: reducing the particle size to the nanoscale, coating the material with a thin layer of carbon, and incorporating a small amount of aluminium to improve ion transport. These strategic enhancements enabled sodium ions to move more quickly and safely, resulting in a battery that delivers both speed and longevity.
Sodium, unlike lithium, is both inexpensive and abundantly available in India. This makes sodium-ion batteries a strategic solution for reducing dependence on costly imports and aligning with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) mission. Beyond affordability, the new technology holds the potential to revolutionize clean energy across multiple sectors—from powering electric vehicles and solar grids to energizing drones and rural homes.
The battery has undergone rigorous testing, including advanced electrochemical cycling and quantum simulations, to validate its performance. Notably, it mitigates many of the fire hazards and degradation issues associated with conventional lithium-ion batteries, adding another layer of safety and appeal.
Although further development is required before commercial deployment, this breakthrough marks a major step forward in India’s pursuit of sustainable energy solutions. With growing interest from the scientific community and continued institutional support, India may be poised to lead the global charge in next-generation battery technology.
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