India's superfast sodium-ion battery charges 80% in six minutes, could cut lithium imports

New Delhi: In a potential breakthrough for India’s clean energy ambitions, scientists at Bengaluru’s Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) have developed a sodium-ion battery that charges up to 80 per cent in just six minutes and delivers over 3,000 charge cycles—opening new possibilities for electric vehicles, solar grids, drones, and rural electrification.Developed by a team led by Professor Premkumar Senguttuvan and Ph.D. scholar Biplab Patra, the battery is based on a NASICON-type chemistry, a known structure in electrochemical materials, but significantly enhanced using novel material engineering. The anode—Na₁.₀V₀.₂₅Al₀.₂₅Nb₁.₅(PO₄)₃—was optimised using three key strategies: nanosizing, carbon coating, and aluminium substitution.According to the team, shrinking the particle size to the nanoscale increases the surface area and reduces the distance sodium ions need to travel. A thin carbon layer wrapped around the particles enhances conductivity. Adding aluminium to the material structure further improves electrochemical stability, allowing faster and safer ion movement.What makes the innovation particularly significant for India is its use of sodium—an element that is widely available in the country, unlike lithium which is geopolitically constrained and largely imported. The research aligns with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) mission and its drive to reduce dependence on critical mineral imports for green technologies.“This development has the potential to address a key challenge in the energy storage sector,” said researchers involved in the project. “Lithium-ion batteries are efficient but expensive and resource-constrained. Our sodium-ion battery shows promise for fast-charging, long-lasting, and cost-effective energy solutions.”The battery has undergone rigorous validation, including electrochemical cycling and quantum-level simulations, to test performance, safety, and durability. The result is a prototype that retains over 80 per cent capacity after thousands of charge-discharge cycles—making it viable for long-term use.India’s rising electricity demand, rapid EV adoption, and rural electrification targets have amplified the need for domestic energy storage technologies. Sodium-ion batteries are seen as a strong alternative for grid storage and medium-range electric mobility solutions due to their thermal stability and low cost.Beyond vehicles and grids, researchers said the battery could be deployed in drone operations, emergency backup systems, and decentralized clean energy applications in remote areas. Its ability to avoid thermal runaway—one of the key fire risks in lithium-based systems—makes it attractive for use in high-temperature environments.While commercial deployment is still some distance away, the discovery is already drawing attention within the scientific and energy policy communities. With continued R&D and industry collaboration, India could position itself as a key innovator in next-generation battery technology.The development comes at a time when global supply chains for lithium are under strain, with price volatility and geopolitical considerations affecting EV and battery storage markets. Countries including China, Australia, and Chile dominate lithium mining and refining, leaving importing nations vulnerable to supply shocks.By contrast, sodium—being abundant and inexpensive—offers a more secure and sustainable raw material base for future battery manufacturing.The JNCASR is an autonomous institution under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. Its work on sodium-ion chemistry adds to a growing body of research aimed at indigenising clean energy technologies.If successfully scaled and commercialised, this new battery platform could play a critical role in enabling India’s transition to a clean, electrified future—without depending on imported critical minerals.

• By Saurav Anand ,
• ETEnergyWorld

• Published On May 23, 2025 at 08:41 AM IST