Scientists in Bengaluru have created a new cathode material for Zinc batteries, aiming to boost eco-friendly energy storage. The team from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS) introduced a simple thermo-electrochemical treatment to improve the cathode's structure. "Significant advances in energy storage... have been focused largely around lithium batteries because of their desirable performance," said the Department of Science and Technology. However, lithium batteries pose environmental and safety risks. As safer options, zinc-ion batteries are gaining attention due to their high storage capacity and eco-friendliness. But existing cathode materials have struggled to meet performance needs in zinc-ion systems. CeNS's lead researcher Ashutosh Kumar Singh’s team solved this by modifying the cathode with their new method. The department added, "This could help the batteries gain high energy storage performance. This represents a straightforward and efficient approach to enhancing the overall energy density and stability of the usual cathode materials." This breakthrough could lead to better, safer, and greener batteries in the near future.