Nagaland University PhD scholar Dipankar Hazarika has secured the support of the Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi for his research on battery technologies, a breakthrough that could contribute to flexible, wearable, and sustainable electronic devices while advancing India’s clean energy storage goals.
Under the guidance of Dr. Nurul Alam Choudhury, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, Nagaland University, Hazarika has been awarded the prestigious “Energy Innovation Fellowship Grant”, aimed at accelerating community-based battery energy innovations in India.
His research focuses on sustainable biopolymer-based hydrogel electrolytes for next-generation solid-state energy storage. His lab-scale prototype has already demonstrated high-rate capability, long cycle life (51,500 cycles), and strong electrochemical performance, leading to an Indian patent filing.
His research paper was published in the Journal of Power Sources, a Q1 journal with an impact factor of 8.1. The study, titled “An Ionically Cross-Linked Chitosan Hydrogel Membrane Electrolyte for Long-Lived Electrical Double Layer Capacitors”, was co-authored by Duangailung Kamei, Nuphizo Shijoh, and Dr. Choudhury.
Expressing gratitude to the Norwegian Embassy and Nagaland University, Hazarika stated, “This fellowship will help translate my research into real-world energy solutions. We aim to conduct performance testing and seek industry collaborations to scale up the product for market adoption.”
Out of over 100 applicants, Hazarika was among the 13 innovators selected for the fellowship, which is implemented in collaboration with Innovation Norway, NITI Aayog, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), and Atal Incubation Centers (AICs). His project is supported by AIC-SMUTBI (Sikkim Manipal University Technology Business Incubation), led by CEO Prof. Tej Chingtham.
Congratulating Hazarika on his achievement, Nagaland University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Jagadish K. Patnaik praised his groundbreaking research, stating it reflects the growing research excellence at the university.
The fellowship provides mentorship and industry guidance, with experts like Dr. Nikhil Tambe, CEO of The Energy Consortium at IIT Madras, assisting fellows in technology readiness and product deployment.
Hazarika’s work explores hydrogel-based electrolytes, which offer advantages over conventional liquid-based electrolytes. His biopolymer hydrogel electrolyte, made from chitosan (derived from crab and shrimp shells) and non-toxic ionic crosslinkers like sodium carbonate, boasts benefits such as: Leak-proof and non-flammable; Biodegradable and non-toxic; Cost-effective and scalable and High ionic conductivity (7.89 mS cm-¹) and electrochemical stability (up to 2.32V).
His research aligns with India’s vision of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, emphasizing battery technology’s role in rural energy access and sustainability.