Executive Summary:
Indian scientists have developed a novel, flexible, and eco-friendly aluminum-ion battery as a safer alternative to lithium-ion batteries. The new battery technology utilizes aluminum and a water-based solution, addressing issues of overheating, explosion risks, and environmental hazards. The battery maintains 96.77% of its power after 150 charge-discharge cycles and remains functional when bent, demonstrating its potential for flexible electronic devices. This innovation supports sustainability goals and positions India as a leader in next-generation energy storage.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Novel Battery Technology:**
* Developed as a flexible and safe alternative to lithium-ion batteries.
* Utilizes aluminum (abundant metal) and a water-based solution.
* Addresses issues of overheating and explosion common in lithium-ion batteries.
* **Development & Collaboration:**
* Developed by scientists from CeNS (Bengaluru) and CeNSE at IISc.
* CeNS is an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.
* **Technical Specifications:**
* Employs a unique cathode (CuHCFe prefilled with aluminum ions) and an anode (MoO).
* Demonstrated flexibility, maintaining functionality when bent or folded.
* Maintains 96.77% of its power after 150 charge-discharge cycles.
* **Applications & Potential:**
* Potential applications include flexible smartphones, safer electric vehicles, and wearable devices integrated into clothing.
* Supports sustainability goals through the use of aluminum, an environmentally friendly resource.
* **Testing & Validation:**
* Advanced microscopic tools used to ensure balanced components.
* Rigorously tested for efficiency, durability, and flexibility.
Impact Analysis:
**Consumers:**
* Impact: Access to safer and more sustainable batteries in electronic devices, potentially leading to more flexible and wearable technologies.
* Action Required: Consider future adoption of devices utilizing this battery technology as it becomes available.
**Electronic Device Manufacturers:**
* Impact: Opportunity to integrate safer, more flexible, and environmentally friendly batteries into products.
* Action Required: Explore the adoption of aluminum-ion batteries in future product development and manufacturing processes.
**Researchers/Scientists:**
* Impact: This work represents a significant stride in multivalent ion battery technology.
* Action Required: Ongoing improvements, such batteries could soon become standard in many aspects of our daily lives, and positions the country at the forefront of developing safe, sustainable, and nextgeneration energy storage solutions that align with global environmental goals.
**Government (Ministry of Science and Technology, DST):**
* Impact: Strengthened position in the development of sustainable and next-generation energy storage solutions, contributing to global environmental goals.
* Action Required: Continue supporting research and development in this field to further advance the technology and its applications.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Science Technology: The Indian government ministry responsible for science and technology policy and initiatives.
Lithium-ion batteries: A type of rechargeable battery commonly used in electronics and electric vehicles, but prone to overheating and explosion.
Bengaluru, Karnataka: City in India where the research was conducted.
Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences CeNS: An autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) involved in the battery technology development.
Department of Science and Technology DST: A department within the Government of India that funds and supports scientific research.
Indian Institute of Science IISc: An Indian institute that collaborated on the battery technology development.
aluminum: A metal used in the new battery technology as an alternative to lithium.
copper hexacyanoferrate CuHCFe: A special material used as the cathode (positive part) in the novel battery.
Ministry of Science & Technology
Indian scientists develop flexible, safe, and eco-
friendly battery: A big step towards sustainable
energy
Posted On: 15 SEP 2025 4:31PM by PIB Delhi
A novel battery technology has been developed by scientists that makes the battery flexible enough
to fold like a piece of paper and also is safe enough to touch without any worry.
Commonly used Lithium-ion batteries, are prone to overheating and explosion.
Researchers in Bengaluru from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), an autonomous
institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, in collaboration with
the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE) at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), have
developed a novel battery technology that could serve as an alternative to traditional lithium-ion batteries
commonly used in phones, laptops, electric vehicles, and wearable devices.
This new battery uses aluminum—one of Earth's most abundant metals—and a water-based
solution. This combination makes it safer, cheaper, and much kinder to our environment. It could
protect from battery explosions and environmental hazards, and also reduce the power requirement
of our devices.
Although aluminum has great potential because it can store and release energy efficiently, scientists faced
problems in practically using it due to its complicated chemistry. The Bengaluru scientists solved these
problems by tweaking materials at the microscopic level. They designed a unique cathode (positive part) from
a special material called copper hexacyanoferrate (CuHCFe), pre-filled with aluminum ions. They paired this
with an anode (negative part) made from molybdenum trioxide (MoO₃), creating a powerful battery that’s not
just effective but also flexible enough to bend without breaking.
Figure. Flexible Aqueous Aluminum-Ion Battery Concept: Schematic representation showing
the battery's composition, including the crystal structure of the electrode material, device
architecture, and demonstrated flexibility with stable performance under bending conditions.This innovative battery stores energy efficiently and reliably, maintaining 96.77% of its power after 150
charge-discharge cycle limiting reduction in battery life over extended daily use.
It stays functional even when bent or folded completely in half. To showcase this, scientists powered an LCD
display continuously, even while the battery was bent at extreme angles. This could help develop gadgets in
future that can be rolled up for fabricating wearable devices seamlessly integrated into clothing.
The scientists used advanced microscopic tools, including electron microscopes and spectroscopic techniques,
to ensure the battery's components were perfectly balanced for high performance. They rigorously tested the
battery to confirm its efficiency, durability, and flexibility, ensuring it can stand up to real-world use. This
innovation has promising implications for everyday applications. Potential developments could include
flexible smartphones, safer electric vehicles, and wearable devices integrated into clothing. Moreover, the use
of aluminum, an abundant and environmentally friendly resource, supports broader sustainability goals.
This work represents a significant stride in multivalent ion battery technology. With ongoing
improvements, such batteries could soon become standard in many aspects of our daily lives, and
positions the country at the forefront of developing safe, sustainable, and next-generation energy
storage solutions that align with global environmental goals.
***
NKR/PSM
(Release ID: 2166782)