The Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) and Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop and commercialize zinc-ion battery technologies. This collaboration aims to create new variants of zinc materials, offering a low-cost, domestically sourced alternative to expensive imported lithium-ion batteries.
Zinc-ion batteries, utilizing abundant and inexpensive raw materials, hold great promise for large-scale energy storage due to their superior performance and safety. Recent advancements in zinc battery technology have improved material stability, performance, and reliability across various temperatures, positioning zinc batteries as a viable option for revolutionizing the energy storage sector. Key to their success is addressing the challenge of zinc’s thermodynamic instability with water-based solutions, which requires modifications to the electrode, electrolyte, and interfaces.
The partnership will leverage JNCASR’s extensive research expertise, led by Prof. Premkumar Senguttuvan, and Hindustan Zinc’s product innovation capabilities. The collaboration focuses on developing new zinc alloys for anodes and electrolytes for rechargeable batteries, to enhance the lifespan and safety of these devices.