LUMAMI, MAY 13 (MExN): Dipankar Hazarika, a PhD scholar from Nagaland University, has been selected for the prestigious 'Energy Innovation Fellowship Grant' awarded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi, in recognition of his pioneering research in battery technology. He is among just 13 innovators across India to receive this grant.
Hazarika's work, under the supervision of Dr Nurul Alam Choudhury, Assistant Professor at the Department of Chemistry, focuses on developing biopolymer-based hydrogel electrolytes for next-generation solid-state energy storage systems. The research has already seen laboratory-scale success and an Indian patent have been filed. The prototype boasts high-rate capability, strong areal capacitance, and a cycle life exceeding 51,000 cycles.
The innovation is aimed at addressing energy storage challenges using sustainable, biodegradable materials such as chitosan, a derivative of crab and shrimp shells. The hydrogel electrolyte developed is leak-proof, non-toxic, cost-effective, and electrochemically stable, offering potential for use in flexible and wearable electronics.
His recent research paper titled "An ionically cross-linked chitosan hydrogel membrane electrolyte for long-lived electrical double layer capacitors" was published in the Journal of Power Sources, a reputed Q1 journal with an impact factor of 8.1. Co-authors include Duangailung Kamei, Nuphizo Shijoh, and Dr Choudhury.
The Fellowship, implemented in partnership with Innovation Norway, NITI Aayog, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), and Atal Incubation Centres (AICs), provides expert mentorship and industry linkage. AIC-SMUTBI (Sikkim Manipal University Technology Business Incubation) is the regional host for the Northeast.
"This Fellowship will strengthen my research and help us move toward market-ready solutions," said Hazarika. He plans to conduct field testing and seek industry collaborations for product scaling.
Nagaland University Vice-Chancellor Prof Jagadish K. Patnaik congratulated Hazarika, stating that the achievement reflects the growing research excellence at the university.
Dr Choudhury highlighted the importance of focusing on electrolyte innovation, often overshadowed by electrode research. He emphasized the role of safe, stable, and sustainable electrolytes in achieving India's clean energy goals.
Prof Tej Chingtham, CEO of AIC-SMUTBI, also lauded the achievement and expressed hope for deeper collaboration in fostering clean energy innovations in the region.
Out of over 100 proposals nationwide, only 13 were selected, including two from the Northeast. Hazarika's project, titled "Sustainable Biopolymer-based Hydrogel Electrolytes for Next-generation Solid-state Energy Storage," was among the shortlisted innovations in Phase I of the program.
