Shillong, May 12: In a remarkable stride for clean energy innovation from India’s Northeast, Dipankar Hazarika, a PhD scholar at Nagaland University, has secured the prestigious Energy Innovation Fellowship Grant from the Royal Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi. His pioneering research into sustainable battery technologies could transform how India powers its future—especially in remote and underserved communities.
Hazarika’s work focuses on developing biopolymer-based hydrogel electrolytes—a safer, biodegradable, and more stable alternative to conventional battery components. These innovations are designed to power flexible, wearable, and environmentally friendly electronic devices, addressing the growing global demand for clean, scalable energy storage solutions.
Working under the guidance of Dr. Nurul Alam Choudhury, Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry, Hazarika has already achieved laboratory-scale validation and filed for an Indian patent. His prototype, an all-solid-state supercapacitor, has demonstrated exceptional performance: a record cycle life of 51,500 cycles at 2 mm⁻², high areal capacitance, and superior electrochemical stability.
His recent research paper, co-authored with collaborators from Nagaland University, was published in the Journal of Power Sources (Impact Factor: 8.1), a leading international journal in the field. Titled “An ionically cross-linked chitosan hydrogel membrane electrolyte for long-lived electrical double layer capacitors”, the study presents a breakthrough in energy materials using chitosan, a biopolymer derived from crab and shrimp shells.
“This fellowship is more than a grant—it’s a gateway to real-world impact,” Hazarika said. “It connects our lab-based innovations with industry mentorship and opens doors to field testing, product scaling, and market deployment. The goal is clear: bring sustainable energy technologies to communities that need them most.”
Hazarika is one of only 13 innovators selected nationwide from over 100 applicants across five regions. He is among two from the North East chosen in Phase I of the program, implemented in partnership with Innovation Norway, NITI Aayog, TERI, and Atal Incubation Centers (AICs). His project is hosted by AIC-SMUTBI (Sikkim Manipal University), led by CEO Prof. Tej Chingtham, and titled “Sustainable Biopolymer-based Hydrogel Electrolytes for Next-generation Solid-state Energy Storage.”
“Dipankar’s work is a proud milestone for our university,” said Prof. Jagadish K. Patnaik, Vice-Chancellor of Nagaland University. “It reflects our growing research excellence and the power of indigenous innovation to solve global challenges.”
The need for alternatives to liquid-based electrolytes is pressing. Current technologies are often toxic, flammable, and prone to leakage, limiting their usability in consumer devices and posing safety risks. Hazarika’s hydrogel-based solution is not only non-toxic and biodegradable, but also cost-effective and scalable—ideal for rural electrification, energy equity, and climate-resilient development.
Dr. Nurul Alam Choudhury emphasized the overlooked role of electrolytes: “While electrodes get most of the credit in energy storage breakthroughs, electrolytes are just as critical. Our research is filling that gap with materials that are safer, greener, and better suited for real-world applications.”
As part of the fellowship, Hazarika and fellow innovators will be mentored by top experts, including Dr. Nikhil Tambe, CEO of The Energy Consortium at IIT Madras. The program supports the transition from academic prototypes to commercially viable technologies, with a focus on clean energy deployment in India’s most underserved regions.
Prof. Tej Chingtham, CEO of AIC-SMUTBI, noted, “This partnership not only fuels innovation but creates pathways for local startups in the North East to lead India’s clean energy transition. Together, we’re shaping a future where energy is not just sustainable—but inclusive and accessible.”
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