Scientists at Nagaland University have invented the flexible supercapacitor, a possible source of power in the next generation of wearables, electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy systems in a breakthrough in Indian North East scientific innovation. This innovation would transform the future of the Indian country in energy storage technology.
The university representatives claim that the project is the first research to compare tungsten, vanadium, and cobalt doping in molybdenum diselenide (MoSe 2 ) regarding the use as energy storage. Not only did the research team synthesise material in the lab but it also constructed a working prototype which proved to be practically feasible.
Possible uses of the device include health-monitoring wearables, IoT devices, and robotics instantly and electric vehicles in the future. According to researchers, this supercapacitor would enhance regenerative braking, faster acceleration, and would assist in extending the battery life of EVs.
Such an approach as the cultivation of indigenous clean energy and storage solutions, which was advocated by Dr. Vijeth H, Assistant Professor at Nagaland University, highlights the project is aligned with the vision of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
“This device combines flexibility, high energy density, and durability—all crucial for future portable and wearable technologies. Among tungsten, vanadium, and cobalt, we found cobalt doping to be the most effective,” he said.
The material was developed using an eco-friendly hydrothermal synthesis process, which is scalable for industrial manufacturing. The team’s findings have been published in RSC Advances, a peer-reviewed journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).
“This research not only showcases scientific excellence emerging from the Northeast but also strengthens India’s path toward sustainable and self-reliant energy solutions,” added Dr. Vijeth.
Pewe-u Marhu, a Research Scholar at the Department of Physics, described the future work of the project: the improvement of the electrode-electrolyte interface, the safety issues with solid-state gel electrolytes, and the production on the pilot level.
“Industry collaborations are being explored to bring this innovation closer to commercialization. The research was conducted entirely at Nagaland University, with advanced characterization support from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru under its INUP Program. Funding was provided by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), which is also leading a national initiative on 2D materials,” Marhu said.
This new technology makes Nagaland University one of the very few institutions in India to do frontline research in the area of energy storage and flexible electronics and opens a new perspective in power systems that are sustainable and high performance.
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