Scientists at Bengaluru’s Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) have achieved a potential breakthrough for India’s clean energy ambitions by developing a sodium-ion battery. This innovative battery can charge up to 80 percent in just six minutes and deliver over 3,000 charge cycles, opening new possibilities for electric vehicles, solar grids, drones, and rural electrification.

The battery, developed by a team led by Professor Premkumar Senguttuvan and Ph.D. scholar Biplab Patra, utilizes a NASICON-type chemistry, enhanced through novel material engineering. The anode—Na₁.₀V₀.₂₅Al₀.₂₅Nb₁.₅(PO₄)₃—was optimized using three key strategies: nanosizing, carbon coating, and aluminum substitution. Nanosizing increases the surface area and reduces the distance sodium ions need to travel. A thin carbon layer wrapped around the particles enhances conductivity. Adding aluminum to the material structure further improves electrochemical stability, allowing faster and safer ion movement.

The use of sodium, which is widely available in India, is particularly significant, unlike lithium, which is geopolitically constrained and largely imported. This research aligns with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) mission, which aims to reduce dependence on critical mineral imports for green technologies.

Researchers involved in the project emphasize that lithium-ion batteries are efficient but expensive and resource-constrained, while their 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 prototype retains over 80 percent 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 considered a strong alternative for grid storage and medium-range electric mobility solutions because of their thermal stability and low cost. They could also be deployed in drone operations, emergency backup systems, and decentralized clean energy applications in remote areas.

The battery's ability to avoid thermal runaway, a key fire risk 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.

This development is particularly timely, as 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. Sodium, being abundant and inexpensive, offers a more secure and sustainable raw material base for future battery manufacturing.

The JNCASR, an autonomous institution under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, is contributing to a growing body of research aimed at indigenizing clean energy technologies. If successfully scaled and commercialized, 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.