Indian Scientists Unveil Game-changing Energy Storage Material
Share this article:
In a landmark development that could shape the future of energy storage technology, a group of Indian scientists has unveiled a high-performance material that significantly enhances the capabilities of supercapacitors. This innovation, led by researchers at the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru, in partnership with Aligarh Muslim University, could make energy storage more efficient, compact, and environmentally sustainable—paving the way for major advancements in electronics, electric vehicles, and renewable energy systems. 
Representative Image/ Credit: Meta AI
Representative Image/ Credit: Meta AI
To overcome this, the Indian research team turned to a novel material: silver niobate (AgNbO₃), known for its high dielectric constant and eco-friendly characteristics. What made their approach stand out was the strategic doping of this material with lanthanum, a rare-earth element known to enhance electronic conductivity and structural stability.
Image Credit: PIB
This combination not only addressed the traditional limitation of energy storage but also preserved the inherent speed of supercapacitors. In laboratory testing, the lanthanum-doped material retained 118% of its original capacity after extended use—an unusually high value, suggesting that the material becomes more efficient with continued cycling. Additionally, it demonstrated 100% coulombic efficiency, meaning virtually no energy was lost during repeated charge-discharge cycles.
A photograph from the study vividly illustrates this achievement, with the lanthanum-doped supercapacitor clearly lighting up a display. This is a key indicator of the technology’s potential to translate into consumer and industrial applications, including portable electronics and grid-level energy storage systems.
Representative Image/ Credit: Meta AI
According to experts, this work not only showcases how rare-earth element doping can optimise known materials like silver niobate but also lays a foundation for future innovations in perovskite-based energy materials. Researchers now aim to scale up production processes and investigate other doping techniques across different oxide systems to make the innovation commercially viable.
The scalability of such materials will depend on the cost and availability of rare-earth elements, but early results suggest that only small amounts of lanthanum are required to achieve significant improvements.
Breakthrough Material Targets Supercapacitor Limitations
Supercapacitors have long held promise as the next big leap in energy storage due to their ability to charge and discharge rapidly. Unlike conventional batteries, they are suited for applications requiring quick energy bursts and frequent cycling. However, one limitation has always held them back—energy density. While supercapacitors are fast, they have typically lagged behind batteries in storing large amounts of energy.To overcome this, the Indian research team turned to a novel material: silver niobate (AgNbO₃), known for its high dielectric constant and eco-friendly characteristics. What made their approach stand out was the strategic doping of this material with lanthanum, a rare-earth element known to enhance electronic conductivity and structural stability.
How Lanthanum Transforms Silver Niobate
The team, under the leadership of Dr Kavita Pandey, employed an innovative nanostructuring approach. By introducing lanthanum into silver niobate nanoparticles, they achieved a two-fold enhancement. First, the particle size of the material was reduced, leading to a significantly increased surface area for charge storage. Second, the lanthanum atoms improved the material’s internal conductivity, enabling more efficient and faster energy transfer.This combination not only addressed the traditional limitation of energy storage but also preserved the inherent speed of supercapacitors. In laboratory testing, the lanthanum-doped material retained 118% of its original capacity after extended use—an unusually high value, suggesting that the material becomes more efficient with continued cycling. Additionally, it demonstrated 100% coulombic efficiency, meaning virtually no energy was lost during repeated charge-discharge cycles.
Real-World Demonstration Confirms Commercial Promise
To validate the practical potential of their innovation, the team built an asymmetric supercapacitor device using the doped material. Impressively, the prototype was able to power a standard LCD display, showcasing that this research has already moved beyond theory into real-world feasibility.A photograph from the study vividly illustrates this achievement, with the lanthanum-doped supercapacitor clearly lighting up a display. This is a key indicator of the technology’s potential to translate into consumer and industrial applications, including portable electronics and grid-level energy storage systems.
Aligning with the Global Push for Green Energy
The study, published in the Journal of Alloys and Compounds, has major implications for the broader push towards green energy. As countries worldwide seek to reduce carbon emissions and transition to renewable sources, the need for efficient, compact, and fast-charging storage solutions becomes critical.According to experts, this work not only showcases how rare-earth element doping can optimise known materials like silver niobate but also lays a foundation for future innovations in perovskite-based energy materials. Researchers now aim to scale up production processes and investigate other doping techniques across different oxide systems to make the innovation commercially viable.
Future Outlook and Industrial Potential
The future of energy storage could well hinge on how quickly such lab-scale breakthroughs are adopted by industry. With high energy density, long lifecycle, and minimal environmental impact, lanthanum-doped silver niobate could emerge as a game-changer in applications ranging from smart devices to electric vehicle infrastructure and solar energy backup systems.The scalability of such materials will depend on the cost and availability of rare-earth elements, but early results suggest that only small amounts of lanthanum are required to achieve significant improvements.
Next Story