India’s push toward advanced clean energy storage technologies has received a significant boost with researchers developing a high-performance thermal battery material capable of storing substantially more heat energy at lower cost. Scientists at the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), have developed a nanocomposite phase change material (PCM) designed for thermal energy storage applications in concentrated solar power (CSP) plants and industrial waste heat recovery systems.

Thermal energy storage plays a critical role in improving the efficiency of CSP projects by storing excess heat and releasing it when sunlight is unavailable. However, conventional storage materials often face limitations in heat capacity, thermal conductivity, and operating temperature range. To address these challenges, the ARCI research team developed a scalable and cost-effective process using a simple co-precipitation technique to synthesize spinel-type metal oxide nanoparticles.

The breakthrough lies in the addition of just 1% spinel oxide nanoparticles into the PCM matrix. According to the researchers, this small enhancement increased the material’s specific heat capacity by nearly 45% compared to conventional PCM materials. The nanoparticles improve thermal performance by increasing surface area and creating a stable spinel oxide interface layer, enabling the material to store more thermal energy per unit mass.

The improved storage capability could help reduce the size of thermal energy storage systems, lowering both material usage and infrastructure costs. Smaller and more efficient storage units are expected to benefit next-generation CSP facilities as well as industries seeking to recover and reuse waste heat from high-temperature operations.

The research, published in Materials Today Chemistry (Elsevier), aligns with India’s broader clean energy and Aatma Nirbhar Bharat goals by strengthening indigenous capabilities in advanced energy materials. The development could accelerate the deployment of compact, high-performance, and economically viable thermal storage technologies for future renewable energy systems.

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