Scientists at India’s International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials have developed a cost-effective thermal energy storage material that could improve the efficiency of thermal batteries used in concentrated solar power and industrial waste heat recovery.
Led by Dr. Mani Karthik, the research team used a scalable co-precipitation method to produce spinel-type metal oxide nanoparticles integrated into phase change materials. Adding just 1 percent spinel oxide nanoparticles increased specific heat capacity by up to 45 percent compared with conventional phase change materials without nanocomposites.
The enhanced material can store more thermal energy per unit mass, enabling smaller storage tanks and potentially lower capital and operational costs. The nanoparticles demonstrated strong thermal stability and uniform dispersion, making them suitable for advanced thermal battery applications.
The findings were published in the journal Materials Today Chemistry. The work aligns with India’s clean energy objectives and the Aatma Nirbhar Bharat initiative by advancing indigenous expertise in next-generation energy storage technologies. ARCI operates as an autonomous institution under the Department of Science and Technology.
Phase change materials store thermal energy by transitioning between solid and liquid states, making them useful for grid-scale storage alongside solar plants. Smaller storage tanks from the enhanced material could reduce construction material needs and lower project costs. The research supports India’s renewable expansion and industrial energy efficiency goals.
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Sources:
https://ddnews.gov.in/en/india-cyprus-strategic-partnership-to-give-new-ambition-momentum-to-bilateral-ties-pm-modi/