22 - 05 - 2026

India’s New Heat-Storing Material Packs a Surprising Punch

Researchers at India’s state-run ARCI have developed a cost-effective thermal energy storage material that could improve the efficiency of thermal batteries used in concentrated solar power plants and industrial waste heat recovery systems.

The team at the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials, under the Department of Science and Technology, used a simple co-precipitation process to create spinel-type metal oxide nanoparticles with controlled particle size. The material, developed under the leadership of Dr. Mani Karthik, was designed to improve phase change materials, or PCMs, which store and release heat at specific temperatures.

According to the research, adding just 1% of the spinel oxide nanoparticles to the PCM increased specific heat capacity by as much as 45% compared with the base material. That means the nanocomposite can store more thermal energy per unit mass, improving storage efficiency and reducing the size of storage tanks.

The smaller footprint could also cut construction materials, capital spending and operating costs, making the technology more attractive for large-scale solar and industrial heat applications.

ARCI said the nanomaterials showed strong thermal stability and uniform dispersion, both of which are important for reliable performance in high-temperature environments. The findings were published in Materials Today Chemistry, an Elsevier journal.

The development fits with India’s push for cleaner and more efficient energy systems, while also supporting the government’s Aatma Nirbhar Bharat agenda by building domestic capability in advanced energy-storage materials.

Why it matters

Thermal energy storage is increasingly important as countries look to make better use of concentrated solar power and capture waste heat that would otherwise be lost. Materials that improve heat retention without driving up cost are especially valuable because they can make storage systems more compact, scalable and commercially viable.

ARCI’s approach is notable because it combines relatively simple manufacturing with measurable performance gains. In practical terms, that could help lower the economic barrier for thermal storage deployment in both renewable power and industrial settings.