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					</table>The Indian Institute of Science&#8217;s (<a href="https://iisc.ac.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IISc</a>) Department of Instrumentation and Applied Physics (IAP) has created an ultramicro supercapacitor that can store a large amount of electric charge despite its small size.
Unlike batteries, capacitors are unable to discharge energy continuously, making them unsuitable for powering devices such as mobile phones.
However, supercapacitors offer the benefits of both batteries and capacitors as they have the capability to both store and release large amounts of energy, making them highly sought after for advanced electronic devices.
The researchers intend to investigate whether replacing MoS2 with other materials can further increase the capacitance of their supercapacitor.
They said their fully functional supercapacitor can be integrated into energy-storage devices through on-chip integration, such as electric car batteries or miniaturized systems.
They plan to apply for a patent for the supercapacitor.
This new supercapacitor is smaller and more condensed than previous models. It can be utilized in consumer electronic devices, electric vehicles, streetlights, and medical devices.
In the study, which has been published in ACS Energy Letters, the researchers said they utilized Field Effect Transistors (FETs) as charge collectors for their supercapacitor instead of the metallic electrodes that are commonly used in traditional capacitors.
According to Abha Misra, Professor at IAP and corresponding author of the study, &#8220;Using FET as an electrode for supercapacitors is something new for tuning charge in a capacitor.&#8221;
After manufacturing the supercapacitor, the researchers measured its electrochemical capacitance or charge-holding capacity by applying various voltages.
Their findings showed that the capacitance increased by 3000% under specific conditions, which was significantly higher than the 18% increase observed in a capacitor containing only MoS2 without graphene under the same conditions.
Currently, batteries are the primary power source for many devices. But batteries have a limited lifespan as they gradually lose their capacity to store charge over time. Capacitors, on the other hand, can store electric charge for much longer periods due to their design.
For instance, a capacitor operating at 5 volts will maintain the same voltage even after 10 years.
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) have <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/researchers-find-solar-pv-storage-systems" target="_blank" rel="noopener">developed</a> a solution that combines power from renewable sources with electricity from the public grid and uses batteries to compensate for fluctuations.
Earlier this month, researchers at the Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, China, and Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan, <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/crab-shells-could-power-rechargeable-batteries" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claimed</a> to upcycle crab shells into porous, carbon-filled materials with various uses, including using the crab carbon to create anode materials for sodium-ion batteries.

IISc Researchers Develop Supercapacitor for Advanced Energy Storage Devices

The Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (<a href="http://www.iiseradmission.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">IISER</a>) and SPEL Technologies Pune have jointly developed a technology for generating functionalized graphene at lower costs.
This process will be used for the development of graphene-based supercapacitors for energy storage, according to the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The supercapacitors will be fabricated at SPEL.
The DST is a department within the Ministry of Science and Technology in India, established to promote new areas of science and technology and is a nodal department for organizing, coordinating, and promoting scientific and technological activities in the country.
Supercapacitors are electrical devices that are used to store a large amount of electrical charge. They are known as double-layer capacitors or ultracapacitors. They store and release energy and need a layer of electrolyte.
Electrolytes are electrically conductive material that can be solid, liquid, or somewhere in between. Electrolytes are very crucial components in the performance of electrochemical supercapacitors.
This new way of reducing graphene oxide is claimed to lead to the formation of self-healed ambient stable, reduced graphene oxide (rGO).  The release also stated that the cost of raw materials for the production of one gram of rGO is estimated to be less than ₹700 (~$9.81). This is much lower than is currently commercially available.
The ‘High-Performance Graphene-Based Super Capacitor’ project is supported and funded by the Technology Mission Division (Energy and Water), DST, under the Material for Energy Storage Program.
The DST is supporting research on energy materials through a Materials for Energy Conservation and Storage Platform (MECSP). The MECSP will support research and development for the entire spectrum of energy conservation and storage technologies from early-stage research to technology breakthroughs in materials, systems, and scalable technologies to maximize resource use efficiency.
Four centers have been developed under DST – MECSP on supercapacitors, batteries, and hydrogen. These centers include more than 20 elite institutions and 80 research personnel working on materials and next-generation devices in batteries, supercapacitors, solid-state hydrogen storage, and fuel cells.
Earlier, Mercom <a href="https://mercomindia.com/electrolyte-boost-efficiency-supercapacitors-energy-storage/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a> that researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and other institutions have come out with a new class of liquids that will enhance the efficiency and stability of supercapacitors. They have also developed a method to reduce the flammability of these devices.
Previously, the IISER in Bhopal <a href="https://mercomindia.com/scientific-research-institute-bhopal-eoi-solar-projects/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">launched</a> an expression of interest for establishing a solar power project based on RESCO (renewable energy service company) model. The project is slated to be installed on an approximately six-kilometer peripheral road at IISER.

New Technology to Develop Indigenous Graphene Supercapacitor for Energy Storage

Bengaluru-based fuel cell startup <a href="https://www.log9materials.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Log 9 Materials</a> has announced that it has secured $3.5 million in the latest Series A round of funding led by Exfinity Venture Partners and Sequoia Capital India.
The company is planning to use the money to develop and deploy aluminum fuel cells, which the company has been working on since last year. The aluminum-air batteries generate electricity from aluminum and oxygen reaction. The technology used in the battery is similar to hydrogen fuel cells, and at the same time, it is safer and more economical, according to the company.
Speaking about the company’s plans, CEO of Log 9 Materials, Akshay Singhal said, “The ultimate objective is to transition towards an aluminum-based cleaner energy economy that will shift our dependence from crude oil and fossil fuels for energy generation and storage.”
Amara Raja Batteries and Exide largely dominate the Indian battery segment, and smaller players are trying their best to come up with innovative products and carve a niche for themselves. Log 9 is also in the process of developing technology for electric vehicles (EVs), and it is expected to hit the market in the next 18-24 months.
Speaking about the latest round of funding, director of technology at <a href="https://www.sequoiacap.com/india/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sequoia Capital India</a>, Anandamoy Roychowdhary said, “Their technology can help us harness aluminum and will result in a 100% recyclable energy future that is safe, free of distribution calamities risk and generates zero waste – and hence fully sustainable.”
The introduction of electric vehicles has changed the face of the battery segment, and the Indian automotive sector has started to feel the effects of this change. Research has picked up in this sector aimed at improving lithium-ion batteries and fuel cells.
It was <a href="https://mercomindia.com/mnre-import-lead-acid-batteries-solar-projects/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a> earlier that the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) had issued guidelines for the import of secondary cells and lead-acid and nickel-based batteries used in solar project development. This notification is concerning its earlier regulation for solar PV systems, devices, which was passed in 2017. MNRE has now clarified that batteries of lead-acid or nickel-based chemistry type are covered under the Indian Standard (IS) 16270 for storage batteries that are used in solar projects.
Previously, the government <a href="https://mercomindia.com/government-blueprint-ev-battery/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">issued</a> a proposal to set up a national mission on transformative mobility and battery storage initiatives. The Cabinet has also approved the creation of the Phased Manufacturing Program (PMP) to support the development of large-scale, export-competitive integrated batteries and cell-manufacturing giga-scale projects in India. The Phased Manufacturing Program will be valid for five years until 2024 and help in localization of production across the entire electric vehicle value chain. The program is expected to be finalized by the national mission on transformative mobility and battery storage.
Unlike for solar components, battery testing guidelines are being established before the announcement of the national mission for battery storage.

Bengaluru-based Fuel Cell Startup Log 9 Materials Gets $3.5 Million in Series A Funding

<a href="http://en.znshinesolar.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ZNShine Solar</a>, a Chinese PV module manufacturer, has won a tender to supply 37.5 MW of PV modules to Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), which is India’s largest manufacturer of power generation equipment.
This development is significant as it marks the first overseas module supplier to win a contract with BHEL.
&#8220;The Indian PV market has been growing rapidly in recent years, we are targeting its potential and huge demand. We are also planning to build with our local partner an integrated production line there that includes silicon wafer, cells and modules,&#8221; said Qian Li, Marketing Director of ZNShine Solar.
The main reason for ZNShine to win the bid is believed to be its superior products over local suppliers as it has recently developed graphene-coating (nano technology) solar modules. The graphene coating has a self-cleaning property that is advantageous for Indian condition prone to dust storms.
The contract mandates that 10 percent of the supplies will be graphene-coating solar panels and all deliveries will be made by October 2018.
ZNShine’s customized local services and graphene modules is expected to save cleaning and maintenance cost. The modules claimed to maximize the light transmittance (94.3 percent), which can increase the power output by 0.5 to 1 percent.
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/bhel-bags-orders-solar-projects-gujarat/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Earlier</a>, BHEL bagged orders worth ₹1.25 billion (~$0.019 billion) for the development of two solar photovoltaic (SPV) power projects in Gujarat.
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/bhel-to-construct-75mw-solar-gujarat/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Previously, Mercom reported</a> that <a href="http://bhel.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BHEL</a> also bagged a 75 MW grid-connected solar PV project to develop in Gujarat Solar Park, located in Charanka village of Patan district.
As of June 2018, ZNShine’s total shipments to India have reached to approximately 1 GW.
In May 2018, Znshine Solar won a 300 MW photovoltaic module supply agreement with India renewable energy developer ACME Cleantech Solutions Private Limited.

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