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NIT Rourkela Develops Cobalt-Free Cathodes to Drive India's EV

Cobalt-free materials enhance lithium-ion movement, delivering improved stability, higher capacity retention, and longer energy storage life.

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Scientists at the National Institute of Technology Rourkela (NIT Rourkela) have broken a significant record in battery technology with the discovery of cobalt-free cathodes for lithium-ion batteries. This invention is a more sustainable and cheaper alternative to traditional cobalt-based designs, thus addressing key issues such as high costs, limited supply, and environmental concerns.

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Leading the charge:
The research team, led by Dr. Partha Saha, Associate Professor in Ceramic Engineering, along with Prof. Sanjoy Datta, Dr. Soumyasree Jena, and Mr. Abhishek Kumar, has developed magnesium-based cathode materials that promise better battery performance and longer life. The patented technology (Patent No. 554274) effectively replaces cobalt with magnesium and nickel, ensuring structural stability and reduced ion mixing, which are critical for efficient energy storage.

RENEWABLE

 

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Cobalt, an essential component in traditional batteries, is characterized by price volatility, limited availability, and ethical concerns regarding its extraction. With the growing demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage solutions, alternatives such as magnesium-based cathodes are inevitable.

Magnesium is abundant in India and cheaper and more environmentally friendly than cobalt. Its use could reduce production costs by a significant margin, making lithium-ion batteries more accessible while reducing ecological impact.

Battery for EV

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The cobalt-free cathodes maintain 74.3% of their capacity at the 100th charge-discharge cycle, which is an excellent gain over conventional designs that lose their capacity rapidly. This innovation also reduces cationic disorder in nickel sites by lithium, a widespread problem in the conventional cathode that degrades the performance with time.

Ripple Effects:

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The growth of the electric vehicle industry would be supported with affordable and durable batteries, promoting faster adoption in India under the Electric Vehicle Mission of the government.
This helps India to better achieve its goals in renewable energy, making its future cleaner and greener. Economic Independence : It reduces dependency on imported cobalt, strengthens India's stand in the international battery supply chain, and therefore supports "Make in India" and "Atmanirbhar Bharat" visions.

Our cobalt-free cathodes not only surpass traditional designs in capacity retention but also address crucial supply and environmental challenges. This advancement is a step toward sustainable battery production and energy independence," said Dr. Partha Saha.

Collaboration and Funding:

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This project, under the Nanomission program of the Department of Science and Technology, was a collaboration between the Department of Physics and Astronomy at NIT Rourkela.

Toward a Sustainable Future:

NIT Rourkela's innovation opens a new page in lithium-ion battery technology and can benefit the industries, consumers, and environment. It reinforces India's commitment to energy efficiency, sustainability, and self-reliance in the rapidly expanding EV and renewable energy sectors.

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