DIMAPUR: In a significant achievement for the Northeast and India’s scientific community, Dipankar Hazarika, a PhD scholar from Nagaland University, has been awarded the prestigious Energy Innovation Fellowship Grant by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi. He is one of only 13 innovators selected nationwide for this highly competitive fellowship, aimed at creating cutting-edge research in sustainable energy storage technologies.
Working under the mentorship of Dr. Nurul Alam Choudhury, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, Hazarika is conducting his research at the Laboratory for Polymer Materials and Renewable Energy, Nagaland University.
Such indigenous innovative solutions that directly empower local communities in battery and energy technologies are vital for India to achieve its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. His work has already achieved laboratory-scale validation, and an Indian patent has been filed to protect the innovation.
Titled ‘Sustainable Biopolymer-based Hydrogel Electrolytes for Next-generation Solid-state Energy Storage,’ Hazarika’s project aims to address safety, sustainability, and performance gaps in existing battery technologies. His hydrogel electrolyte, developed using chitosan—a biodegradable polymer derived from crab and shrimp shells—along with a non-toxic ionic crosslinker like sodium carbonate, offers a safer and eco-friendly alternative to conventional liquid electrolytes.
The Fellowship is supported by a consortium including Innovation Norway, NITI Aayog, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), and Atal Incubation Centers (AICs).
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