![Development of indigenous lithium-ion battery prototype with safe and energy dense chemistry from India](/sites/default/files/2024-03/prototype.jpeg)
The lithium-ion battery is a widely used energy storage technology because of its high volumetric and gravimetric energy density. These batteries are used in portable electronics, electric vehicles and even at power stations to provide uninterrupted power supply. These batteries have tiny memory effect, low self-discharge and can be retrieved from deep discharge. In addition, most of the used components are recyclable.A battery is composed of mainly three components: cathode, anode and electrolyte. The anode is the most dangerous material that catches fire after a full charge and gets dendrite formation while charging discharging fast.In our Electrochemical Energy Laboratory, we have changed the unsafe component by replacing graphite with indigenous safe and low-cost materials like Fe 2 O 3 , Si, SnS, etc. to achieve high energy and safe battery prototype. We have also performed a thorough research to scale up the synthesis process to match the industry requirements. Most importantly, our battery provides ~2.5x energy density compared to commercial lithium-ion batteries. The project is funded by the Ministry of Renewable Energy and we are now making 2.5 Ah batteries in a pouch and cylindrical format at a commercial level.
Prof. Sagar Mitra