Bengaluru Scientists Develop Superfast, Durable Sodium-Ion Battery as Alternative to Lithium

Bengaluru, May 20 — In a breakthrough that could reshape the future of energy storage in India, researchers at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) have developed a superfast-charging sodium-ion battery (SIB) that could offer a cost-effective, safer alternative to lithium-based batteries.

The new battery, developed by a team led by Prof. Premkumar Senguttuvan and Ph.D. scholar Biplab Patra, can charge up to 80% in just six minutes and has a lifespan of over 3,000 charge cycles—a leap over conventional sodium-ion batteries, which have been plagued by slow charging and poor durability.

The key to the innovation lies in the battery's anode material, a specially engineered NASICON-type compound—Na₁.₀V₀.₂₅Al₀.₂₅Nb₁.₅(PO₄)₃. The research team enhanced the anode's performance by shrinking the particles to nanoscale, coating them in carbon, and adding aluminium to improve conductivity and structural stability. These tweaks dramatically accelerated the movement of sodium ions and improved the battery’s overall efficiency and safety.

While lithium batteries dominate the current market, they come with high costs, limited domestic availability, and supply chain dependencies. Sodium, in contrast, is abundant in India and significantly cheaper—making it an attractive alternative aligned with the Indian government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat goal of self-reliance in critical technologies.

“This development could enable affordable and scalable energy storage solutions for electric vehicles, solar grids, drones, and rural electrification,” said Prof. Senguttuvan. The new battery not only supports rapid charging but also reduces risks of fire and material degradation that are common in lithium-based systems.

The technology has undergone rigorous electrochemical testing and quantum simulations, confirming its high-performance potential. While commercial rollout may still be a few years away, the innovation has drawn attention from the global scientific community and is being hailed as a possible game-changer in the field of clean energy.

If successfully scaled, the sodium-ion battery could give India a critical edge in the global race to develop green, affordable, and secure energy storage systems.