Scientists have developed a battery-free smart sensor that generates its own electricity from movement, offering a potential solution to one of the biggest challenges facing connected devices: how to keep billions of sensors powered without constant battery replacement. As sensors become increasingly common in healthcare, manufacturing, transport and smart buildings, keeping them powered remains a major challenge. Batteries must be replaced or recharged, increasing maintenance costs and limiting long-term monitoring, particularly in remote or inaccessible locations. Researchers at Atlantic Technological University (ATU) have created a flexible self-powered sensor that converts everyday mechanical vibrations into electricity while simultaneously monitoring those vibrations in real time. The technology could support the next generation of wearable healthcare devices, structural health monitoring and Internet of Things (IoT) applications without the need for external power supplies. The technology has the potential to make connected devices more practical by reducing the need for regular maintenance. At the centre of the technology is a flexible piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENG). Piezoelectric materials generate electricity when they are bent, pressed or vibrated. The device combines bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) nanosheets with a flexible polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer. Together, these materials enhance the sensor’s ability to convert mechanical energy into electrical signals, enabling it to harvest energy and continuously monitor vibrations without an external power source. Health monitoring, home security systems, and supporting independent living will be some of the applications for the sensor. One of the biggest challenges was developing a material that could both harvest energy and remain sensitive enough to detect even small vibrations. To demonstrate the technology, the researchers integrated the sensor into a wireless smart security system. Mounted on a door, it detected mechanical impacts and wirelessly transmitted vibration data without requiring a battery. The future of connected devices depends on sensors that can operate independently for years without battery replacement. The team believes the technology could support the next generation of structural health monitoring, predictive maintenance, wearable healthcare technologies and intelligent IoT systems. Future applications include monitoring heart rate, breathing, movement and rehabilitation, as well as fall detection, smart prosthetics, sports performance monitoring and wearable medical devices. Beyond healthcare, the technology could also help monitor machinery, buildings and other critical infrastructure, reducing maintenance requirements while improving long-term reliability.

Source: https://www.atu.ie/news/researchers-develop-battery-free-smart-sensor-for-structural-health-monitoring

Faded family photographs, blurred faces and damaged archival images could soon get a new lease of life, thanks to an artificial intelligence tool developed by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) and IIT BHU.The researchers have developed Generative Latent Inversion for Blind Face Restoration (GenR), an AI-powered framework designed to reconstruct faces from severely degraded images without relying on paired clean-and-damaged training images. The study uses a StyleGAN3-based inversion technique to generate plausible high-quality versions of damaged faces while attempting to preserve their identity and structure. GenR works through three optimisation stages, first identifying global characteristics such as facial structure, identity and pose, before refining features including the eyes, nose and jawline and finally enhancing skin, hair and other textures. Researchers tested the system on denoising, image upsampling, inpainting and deartifacting tasks. The framework reportedly produced a restored image in about 30 seconds for single-degradation tasks. However, the researchers cautioned that extremely damaged images could lead AI to generate realistic details that do not accurately represent the original person. Potential applications include historical photo preservation, digital heritage, forensic analysis, video conferencing and social media. The IITGN team has also worked on Video-ASTAR, a training-free text-to-video approach designed to maintain consistency of objects and their relationships across generated video frames. As World Photography Day highlights the importance of preserving visual memories, the researchers believe AI could play an increasingly important role in protecting old images while also creating visual representations of memories that were never photographed.

Source: https://theblunttimes.in/iit-gandhinagar-researchers-develop-genr-brings-old-faces-back-to-life/69999/

Scientists in Japan have found a new way to 3D print one of the hardest materials used in industry, and that too, without destroying the very properties that make it so valuable. Researchers at Hiroshima University have successfully produced tungsten carbide-cobalt (WC-Co), cemented carbide using a laser-based 3D-printing technique. The resulting material had a hardness of more than 1,400 HV, a measure of how strongly a material resists being scratched or indented. That does not make it the world’s strongest metal. But it does put the material among the hardest engineering materials commonly used in industry. WC-Co is widely used for cutting tools, drills, machining equipment and construction tools because it can withstand intense wear and repeated use. It combines tungsten carbide, which provides the extreme hardness, with cobalt, which acts as a metallic binder holding the carbide particles together. The problem is that making these components is difficult and expensive. Conventional manufacturing generally involves compressing tungsten carbide and cobalt powders and heating them through a process called sintering. Because tungsten and cobalt are costly, wasting material is a major drawback. This is where 3D printing could make a difference. Instead of shaping a large amount of material and removing what is not needed, additive manufacturing builds an object by depositing material where it is required. The researchers used a process called hot-wire laser irradiation, which combines a laser with preheated filler wire. The key breakthrough was to soften the material rather than fully melt it. Completely melting tungsten carbide can change its internal structure and damage the properties that give it its exceptional hardness. The team tested different ways of directing the laser. One approach produced defects because some tungsten carbide decomposed. Another suppressed that problem but allowed iron from the base material to enter the structure, reducing its hardness. Researchers overcame this by adding a middle layer made from a nickel-based alloy and carefully controlling the temperature. The final material exceeded 1,400 HV without tungsten carbide decomposition or major defects. The achievement could eventually make it easier to manufacture complex carbide components while using less expensive raw material.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/japan-3d-print-tungsten-carbide-ultra-hard-material-2963873-2026-08-05

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati have developed a low-cost catalyst to produce hydrogen from water, which can help support the country’s National Green Hydrogen Mission and accelerate the transition to sustainable energy sources. Hydrogen is considered an important part of the global shift to clean energy. When hydrogen is used to produce energy, it generates only water as a byproduct, unlike petroleum-based fuels that release pollutants. Hydrogen is also used in fuel cells and serves as a raw material in several industrial processes, including the production of fertilisers. Currently, 90-95 per cent of hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels. ‘Grey’ and ‘blue’ hydrogen are produced from natural gas, and ‘brown’ and ‘black’ hydrogen from coal. Their production releases greenhouse gases, which negates the environmental benefits of using hydrogen. Water is the cleanest source of hydrogen, and producing hydrogen from water through electrolysis requires efficient catalysts, with researchers around the world studying different materials for this purpose. The most effective catalysts currently available are made from rare and expensive noble metals, which limits their large-scale use. To address this, the IIT-Guwahati researchers used a nickel salt, which is inexpensive and widely available, as one of the components of the water-splitting catalyst. However, nickel salt alone is not efficient enough for hydrogen production and it lacks stability. The researchers combined a nickel salt with an anthracene-based organic molecule. Researchers synthesised the coordination polymer (CP) based catalyst where the anthracene units are interlinked via the nickel nodes in a simple process at room temperature, aided by ultrasonic waves. In these materials, metal atoms are connected by organic molecules, forming an extended network. The structure provides a high density of active sites for the hydrogen evolution reaction and allows for efficient electron transport through the material. The results reveal a significant synergic effect in the combination of nickel and the anthracene-based framework, with each component enhancing the performance of the other. The catalyst was also stable during long-term operation. The researchers also found that nearly 88 per cent of the electrical energy was used to split water. Such low wastage is essential to develop practical systems for large-scale hydrogen production. The team carried out chemical analysis and modelling studies to understand why the catalyst performed well, and found that the nickel atoms formed a three-dimensional network with the anthracene moiety, the statement added.

Source: https://www.rediff.com/news/report/iit-guwahati-develops-low-cost-catalyst-for-hydrogen-from-water/20260814.htm

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have demonstrated a new way of switching a material between two fundamentally different magnetic states using an electric current. The discovery could pave the way for compact, energy-efficient electronic devices that store information, perform logic operations, and even interface with future quantum computers. Many magnetic memory technologies rely on changing the direction of a material’s magnetisation. In this study, however, instead of simply flipping the direction of magnetisation, the team used an electric current to completely transform the material from one magnetic state to another. The researchers studied a complex oxide called Sm₁₋ₓSrₓMnO₃ which is known for hosting multiple magnetic states. At low current, the material exists in a ferromagnetic state in which its atomic magnetic moments are largely aligned in the same direction. In this state, electric current flows easily and resistance is low. But when the applied current crossed a critical value, the material abruptly switched to an antiferromagnetic-like state in which neighbouring magnetic moments tend to point in opposite directions. This state has much higher electrical resistance.

Current-controlled orbital reconstruction drives a transition from ferromagnetic to antiferromagnetic order in a complex oxide and associated quantum-tunnel device (Image: Suryakanta Mondal)

The team demonstrated that this electrically-driven transition is reversible and is accompanied by the collapse of long-range ferromagnetic order and a rearrangement of the material’s electronic orbitals. This makes the switch different from ordinary heating or conventional current-driven reversal of magnetisation. The researchers then used the material to fabricate nanoscale tunnel devices measuring about 250 by 250 nanometres in size. These miniature devices displayed two stable resistance states, with magnetoresistance exceeding 200%. The switching could be controlled by electric current, temperature, and magnetic field. Because the effect is strongest at low temperatures, the discovery is particularly promising for cryogenic memory and logic circuits that can support quantum computing platforms, which typically operate at extremely low temperatures. The researchers now plan to work on reducing the current and energy required for switching, adapting the device for a wide range of operating temperatures, and integrating these devices into larger cryogenic memory and logic circuits. This could potentially lead to a new generation of low-power electronic and quantum devices.

Source: https://www.iisc.ac.in/events/electrically-controlled-magnetic-switching-for-next-gen-cryogenic-devices/

Researchers at IIT Madras have demonstrated 6.39 Gbps wireless data transmission using the Bharat 6G THz Testbed, in collaboration with the Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering & Research (SAMEER). Supported by the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF), the work focuses on terahertz communication for future 6G networks. The demonstration is relevant to applications that require high data rates and low latency, including extended reality, advanced robotics, autonomous systems, and highly connected infrastructure. Higher-frequency wireless links could provide access to larger bandwidths, allowing future networks to move more data while supporting communication-intensive applications. The work also provides an indigenous environment for developing and testing high-frequency wireless technologies in India. Such testbeds can help researchers validate communication systems before potential integration into larger networks and contribute to domestic expertise in technologies being considered for future telecom standards. The Bharat 6G THz Testbed operates in the terahertz spectrum, broadly covering frequencies from 300 GHz to 10 THz. These frequencies sit between millimetre-wave and infrared bands and offer access to spectrum that can support wider wireless channels than many existing communication bands. The demonstrated link achieved a data transmission rate of 6.39 Gbps, equivalent to 6.39 billion bits per second. The technology is being evaluated as part of India’s broader Bharat 6G programme, which is aimed at developing domestic capabilities for next-generation communication systems. Terahertz communication could complement other 6G technologies by providing high-capacity wireless links for specific use cases where conventional cellular frequencies may not offer sufficient bandwidth. The research therefore contributes to the development and validation of high-frequency wireless technologies that could support future 6G networks.

Source: https://www.electronicsforu.com/news/india-advances-terahertz-wireless-for-6g

ISRO has carried out a static test of the upgraded SS1 booster for the SSLV at Sriharikota. The validated changes are expected to raise payload capacity and support wider industry production. The Indian Space Research Organisation has successfully conducted a ground static test of an upgraded version of the first-stage solid booster used in the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), marking a significant step toward enhancing the rocket’s performance and commercial appeal. The test of the improved Solid Stage-1 (SS1) motor was carried out on August 11, 2026, at the static test facility of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota. According to ISRO, the upgraded booster incorporates several design enhancements aimed at improving performance while making the vehicle easier and more economical to manufacture. The modifications include an enhanced propellant burn rate in two motor segments, an optimised thermal protection system, and process improvements in the nozzle subsystem. Engineers have also reduced the overall mass of the stage, contributing to better efficiency. ISRO said the motor’s performance during the test closely matched predicted values, validating the design improvements introduced in the upgraded stage. One of the biggest gains from the upgrade is an increase in the launch vehicle’s payload-carrying capability. ISRO estimates that the improved SS1 stage will boost SSLV’s payload capacity to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) by approximately 100 kilograms, making the rocket more competitive in the rapidly growing small-satellite launch market.The SSLV was developed by ISRO as a production-friendly, launch-on-demand rocket capable of quick turnaround times. Designed primarily for launching small satellites into orbit, the vehicle has already completed two successful developmental flights. The latest milestone comes as ISRO pushes ahead with plans to transfer SSLV technology to Indian industry. The transfer-of-technology process is already underway, with the goal of enabling large-scale production of the launcher by private companies. With higher payload capability and a manufacturing-friendly design, the upgraded SSLV is expected to strengthen India’s position in the global small-satellite launch market while supporting the country’s expanding private space ecosystem.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/isro-fires-more-powerful-version-of-engine-that-will-launch-sslv-to-space-2971058-2026-08-14

In a significant step towards strengthening India’s indigenous aerospace and surveillance capabilities, IIT Delhi successfully demonstrated an AI-enabled tethered Aerostat surveillance system developed through a unique collaboration between academia, industry, and deep-tech startups. During the technology demonstration, a tactical aerostat balloon of about 24 m3 volume was deployed up to a height of 30 meters, carrying a payload of up to 10 kg for different applications like surveillance, security and remote communications. Aerostats are lighter-than-air platforms that remain airborne for extended durations using helium, carrying cameras and sensors to provide persistent aerial surveillance. Compared with drones, aerostats offer significantly longer endurance, lower operating costs, continuous monitoring, higher payload capacity, and enhanced reliability, making them an ideal solution for border surveillance, disaster management, infrastructure monitoring, environmental observation, traffic management, and emergency response. The breakthrough technology originates from the DRDO Industry Academia-Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE) funded SITEX-I and SITEX-II research programmes at IIT Delhi. Researchers developed advanced indigenous aerostat hull materials and engineering technologies, reducing dependence on imported strategic materials and establishing a strong foundation for India’s lighter-than-air systems. Building upon this research, GB Texcoat Solution Pvt. Ltd., a FITT-IIT Delhi-incubated deep-tech startup, industrialized the technology by developing and fabricating the complete aerostat system using its proprietary high-performance coated textile materials designed for superior helium retention, lightweight construction, durability, and all-weather operation. During the demonstration, the aerostat successfully carried a high-definition surveillance payload, validating the performance of the indigenous platform. Simultaneously, CYRAN AI, an IIT Delhi faculty-led deep-tech startup, deployed advanced Edge AI algorithms to analyse live aerial imagery in real time, enabling intelligent object detection, classification, activity recognition, and automated alerts. Beyond strengthening defence preparedness, indigenous aerostat systems can significantly benefit society through improved disaster response, public safety, critical infrastructure monitoring, agriculture, environmental management, and smart-city applications.

Source:https://home.iitd.ac.in/show.php?id=82&in_sections=Research

The Gurugram-based company produces perovskite modules on glass and on flexible substrates and has had its cell efficiency certified by the National Institute of Solar Energy. Almost every solar panel in the world is made of silicon, and silicon is close to the limit of what it can do. Perovskite is the material the industry has been watching for a decade: it converts light more efficiently, it can be processed at low temperatures, and it can be laid onto glass or onto a flexible sheet rather than requiring a rigid wafer. The problem has never been efficiency. Perovskite cells have broken record after record in laboratories. The problem is that they degrade, sometimes within months, under heat, moisture and ultraviolet light, which is precisely what a solar panel spends its life in. Almost nobody has moved the technology from a laboratory record to a product that lasts. P3C Technology and Solutions is attempting it. P3C Technology makes two products. MySUN Glass puts perovskite modules on glass, in the way a conventional panel is built. MySUN Flex puts them on flexible substrates, which is where the material’s advantage over silicon is clearest, since a bendable panel can go onto surfaces a rigid one cannot. Its certified performance sits at 19.3% cell efficiency, verified by the National Institute of Solar Energy, an autonomous body under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Modules, which are larger and always test lower than individual cells, have been measured at around 15%. Its semi-transparent research cells reach about 20%. Production runs on an assembly line the company says it developed itself, with capacity of around 100 kilowatts of small-format modules and a stated plan to reach one megawatt. In March 2026, it launched P3SKY, a platform for manufacturers to test and validate perovskite modules under real-world conditions before committing to production. The markets the company names are broad: commercial field installations, rooftops, automobiles, space, defence, railways and agriculture. It is also working on perovskite-silicon tandem modules with what it has described as one of India’s largest silicon manufacturers, without naming the partner, and on anti-soiling and anti-reflective coatings. The company describes itself as India’s first perovskite solar cell manufacturer and targets gigawatt-scale capacity by 2027. Against a current line measured in hundreds of kilowatts, that is a very large step.

Source: https://yourstory.com/2026/08/p3c-perovskite-solar-modules

Like our left and right hands, some molecules are mirror images that can’t perfectly overlap; this property is called chirality, or molecular “handedness.” Living things frequently recognize and react to the two versions of such molecules (enantiomers) quite differently, even though they have the same atoms arranged in the same way. It is this simple difference that is the essence of life. Nature displays a striking preference for one molecular “hand” or ‘enantiomer’ over the other. From the DNA that encodes our genetic information to the sugars that power our cells, chirality is everywhere. Nowhere is this more remarkable than in proteins—the tiny molecular machines that carry out almost all the work inside our bodies. Proteins are constructed from small building blocks called amino acids. This is where the chirality in proteins comes from. The fact that nature almost exclusively employs one enantiomer of these amino acids is truly remarkable. However, even a minor modification in molecular handedness can significantly alter the behaviour of a protein and alter its shape. For decades scientists have explored whether nature’s limited set of amino acids could be expanded. They aim to create new unnatural amino acid building blocks that can improve protein stability, strength, and functionality. Unnatural amino acids are powerful tools in modern medicine and biotechnology. They enable the creation of biomimetics that mimic natural proteins while offering improved stability, longer activity, and better target selectivity. Several approved drugs, such as bortezomib, octreotide, and baclofen, use modified amino acids to enhance therapeutic effects. Beyond medicine, they help researchers engineer proteins, study biological processes, and design molecules with new functions. They also serve as building blocks in organic synthesis, catalysis, and the development of advanced biomaterials.

Inspired by the need for more efficient ways to access these valuable building blocks, researchers at IIT Delhi developed a new strategy for the precise synthesis of unnatural amino acids and peptides.  They have developed a new visible-light driven chemical strategy to prepare unnatural amino acids with precise control of their three-dimensional structure. Light energy and a chiral copper catalyst–ligand system were also utilized by the scientists to control chemical transformations with a high degree of selectivity. The method is based on using simple and readily available natural amino acid building blocks and allows efficient introduction of new chemical groups to generate a diverse set of unnatural amino acids. The major advantage of this approach is that it provides a large repertoire of unnatural amino acids for the design of next-generation biomolecules.

Source: https://home.iitd.ac.in/show.php?id=85&in_sections=Research