Monday 06 / April / 2026
India to contribute ₹745 crore to the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), a multi-country fusion reaction plant coming up in France.
ITER is a long-term project; according to the latest Energy Technology Perspectives 2026 report of the Internati- onal Energy Agency, the ITER, if successful, could pave the way for a 500 MW demonstra- tion plant connected to the grid, by around 2050. India’s contribution is part of a growing global interest in fusion, even if the results are expected far in the future (see related report ‘Why nuclear fusion is gaining funding’).
Next-gen material for efficient energy storage
Newly developed polymeric materials could significantly improve energy storage and green hydrogen production, advancing access to clean energy.
Scientists have created coordination polymers, Zn (DAB) and Cd (DAB), in which zinc or cadmium ions combine with organic molecules to form stable, layered structures.
A key advantage is that these materials can be easily synthesised at room temperature, without complex equipment, making them suitable for largescale use.
Researchers from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences, in collaboration with Christ University, tested the materials for two critical clean-energy applications — energy storage and hydrogen generation.
In laboratory tests, the materials demonstrated high energy storage capacity and retained performance even after thousands of charge–discharge cycles, indicating strong durability, according to a press release.
They also performed well in more practical, device-like conditions.
Equally important, the materials showed strong potential as electrocatalysts for water splitting, requiring relatively low energy input to produce hydrogen. This makes them competitive with some of the best existing materials.
Graphite from spent battery
A new technology for the reuse of spent graphite recovered from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries could convert battery waste into a high-value functional material that improves fuel cell efficiency.
Researchers from the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI) recovered graphite from spent lithium-ion batteries and chemically peeled (exfoliated) it to increase surface area and the number of edge functional groups.
They also carried out extensive physicochemical characterisation, electrochemical evaluation for oxygen reduction reaction and methanol tolerance, and optimisation of composition for maximum performance and stability.
When integrated with platinum catalysts, the exfoliated graphite formed a conductive network that enhanced both electronic conductivity and oxygen transport while selectively adsorbing methanol molecules. This also acted as a chemical barrier, suppressing methanol oxidation and platinum CO poisoning. An optimum composition of 10 wt per cent exfoliated graphite was identified, offering superior performance and durability.
