In news

The International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI) signs agreement to support Indigenisation of Lithium-Ion Battery Technology fabrication.

Aim

It aims at the introduction of the technology into electric scooters and solar street lamps which will be coordinated with Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.

Agreement

• The Centre for Automotive Energy Materials, ARCI, has developed Li-ion battery technology and demonstrated its successful application in electric scooters and solar street lamps.
• The agreement between ACRI and Nsure Reliable Power Solution will allow the technology transfer and development of expertise in lithium ion processes.
• The R&D labs of ACRI were directed to look for alternative energy materials beyond lithium ion batteries as the electrode materials cost huge, increasing India’s import dependency.
• Efforts will be made under the agreement to promote and indigenise lithium ion technology

Significance

This partnership will be an enabler to reduce the carbon footprint and play an essential role in tackling climate change.

Lithium Ion Batteries

• Lithium ion batteries are the most commonly used energy storage systems that contain lithium metal oxides in an electrolytic set-up.
• The electrolytic set-up consists of lithium salts dissolved in organic carbonates.
• This results in the storage of lithium ions in the positive electrode and carbon in the negative electrode.
• The batteries work by the transfer of lithium ions in two phases. While charging these ions move from positive to negative electrode and the reverse occurs when they are discharged.
• They do not require temperature monitoring for functioning.

International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI)

It was established in the year 1997, is an Autonomous Research and Development Centre of Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India with main campus at Hyderabad spread about 95 acres of land and with operations in Chennai and Gurgaon.

ARCI's mandate is

• Development of High Performance Materials and Processes for Niche Markets
• Demonstration of Technologies at Prototype / pilot scale
• Transfer of Technology to Indian Industry