Cost-Effective High-Performance Thermal Battery Material Developed for Clean Energy Storage

📌 Summary:

• Researchers at the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), have developed a cost-effective, high-performance thermal energy storage material
• The material is a spinel nano-composite Phase Change Material (PCM) made via a simple co-precipitation method that produces spinel-type metal oxide nanoparticles with controlled particle size
• Adding just 1% of spinel oxide nanoparticles to the PCM raised its specific heat capacity (energy storage ability) by as much as 45%
• The well-dispersed nanoparticles form a stable spinel oxide layer at the interface, increasing surface energy and storing more thermal energy per unit mass
• The improvement enables smaller storage tanks, reduced construction material, and lower capital and operational costs
• The material can improve thermal batteries used in concentrated solar power (CSP) plants and industrial waste heat recovery, aligning with India clean energy and Aatmanirbhar Bharat goals

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 Science & Technology — indigenous materials research, thermal energy storage and clean energy technology.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• The material was developed by ARCI, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST)
• Adding 1% spinel oxide nanoparticles raised the PCM specific heat capacity by about 45%
• The material improves thermal batteries used in Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and waste heat recovery

🔑 Key Term: Phase Change Material (PCM) — a substance that absorbs and releases large amounts of thermal energy as it changes phase (such as solid to liquid), used for efficient thermal energy storage.