Home   Â»   Next-gen energy storage research India

Indian Scientists Revolutionize Supercapacitor Tech with Lanthanum Doping

In a major scientific development, Indian researchers from Bengaluru and Aligarh Muslim University have designed a novel material that significantly enhances the performance of supercapacitors—devices vital for clean energy applications. The team’s innovation, a lanthanum-doped silver niobate (AgNbO₃), has demonstrated exceptional energy retention and near-perfect efficiency, positioning it as a potential game-changer for the future of energy storage.

Why in News?

This breakthrough is timely as the global demand for efficient, fast-charging, and environmentally sustainable energy storage systems continues to rise. The Indian team’s findings, recently published in the Journal of Alloys and Compounds, present La-doped AgNbO₃ as a viable solution to bridge the gap between batteries and traditional capacitors—offering both high energy density and rapid charge-discharge capabilities.

What Was Developed?

  • Lanthanum-doped Silver Niobate Nanoparticles (La-AgNbO₃)
  • Created by doping silver niobate with lanthanum (La), a rare-earth metal.
  • This modification enhanced surface area, electrical conductivity, and structural stability.

How It Works

Doping Effects

  • Reduced particle size → more surface area → better energy storage.
  • Improved conductivity → faster charge/discharge cycles.

Performance Outcomes

  • 118% energy retention after extended use.
  • 100% coulombic efficiency — virtually no energy loss during operation.

Testing & Real-World Application

  • A working prototype of an asymmetric supercapacitor was built using the material.
  • The device successfully powered an LCD display, validating real-world usability.

Background & Significance

What are Supercapacitors?

  • Devices that store and release energy rapidly.
  • Used in electric vehicles (EVs), mobile devices, renewable grids, and more.
  • Faster than batteries but usually hold less energy—a limitation this research overcomes.

Why Silver Niobate?

  • A lead-free, eco-friendly perovskite material.
  • Known for strong electrical performance but previously limited in energy capacity.

Role of Lanthanum (La)

  • A rare-earth element that boosts electronic performance.
  • Enhances ionic transport, stability, and electrical conductivity in doped materials.

Broader Implications

Sustainability & Clean Energy

  • Supports India’s push toward green energy storage.
  • Eco-friendly material choices reduce environmental footprint.

Scalability Potential

  • Future research will focus on commercial-scale production.
  • Opens up pathways for innovation in other perovskite materials as well.

Global Relevance

  • Aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to clean energy and innovation.
  • Potentially reduces reliance on conventional lithium-ion batteries.
Indian Scientists Revolutionize Supercapacitor Tech with Lanthanum Doping_4.1