New Delhi: Researchers at Nagaland University have patented an eco-friendly gelatin-based hydrogel membrane electrolyte that offers a safe, flexible, and biodegradable alternative to conventional electrolytes used in supercapacitors, officials said on Monday.

Supercapacitors are fast-charging, high-output energy storage devices used in electric vehicles and emergency medical equipment. The findings were published in Materials Today Chemistry, a reputed peer-reviewed international Q1 journal.

An Indian patent for this technology has been granted to Nagaland University. Duangailung Kamei, a research scholar at the university, said the innovation could pave the way for cleaner, more sustainable energy solutions.

“It holds the potential to greatly impact sustainable energy storage, particularly in electric vehicles, medical wearables, and portable electronics,” Kamei said.

To address issues like leakage and corrosion from liquid electrolytes, the team developed a KI-doped glyoxal-crosslinked gelatin hydrogel membrane electrolyte, combining biodegradable gelatin with glyoxal for flexibility and potassium iodide for improved conductivity and capacitance.

“The result is a semi-transparent, flexible hydrogel that safely conducts ions and maintains stability over thousands of charge-discharge cycles, making it ideal for next-generation solid-state supercapacitors,” Kamei said.

The research was funded by the University Grants Commission, the Science and Engineering Research Board, and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The team is now working to optimise dopant composition, scale up fabrication, and test the material in real-world energy systems.

Nurul Alam Choudhury, Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry, said the development marks a major step toward eco-friendly, high-performance energy storage aligned with India's sustainable development goals.

“Unlike conventional liquid electrolytes, this quasi-solid hydrogel is biodegradable, leak-proof, and exhibits exceptional electrochemical performance. Prototype supercapacitors built using this membrane have already powered LED lamps for extended durations,” he added.