Nepali scientist Dr Shiba P Adhikari wins 2026 R&D 100 Award for Electro-Lith battery technology
KATHMANDU: Nepali-born scientist Dr Shiba P Adhikari, a Materials Scientist at the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory, has won the prestigious 2026 R&D 100 Award for his research role in Electro-Lith battery technology.
The award-winning technology, Electro-Lith, addresses the surging global demand for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, smartphones, laptops, and renewable energy storage systems. Using an electrochemical approach, Electro-Lith adds lithium to battery-active materials and creates a protective layer around the active particles before final assembly. This method aims to simplify battery manufacturing, reduce processing time and energy consumption, and lower overall costs.
The award, widely regarded as the 'Oscars of Innovation', represents one of the world’s best-known honours for technological innovation, selecting 100 of the most significant new technologies developed each year globally. Argonne National Laboratory stated in a press release that the recognition acknowledges technologies that go on to make a major impact on science, medicine, industry, and everyday life.
Dr Adhikari began his scientific path in Nepal before moving abroad to pursue higher education. He earned a Master’s degree in Materials Chemistry from the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom and subsequently completed a doctorate in Chemistry at Wake Forest University in the United States. He then worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Oak Ridge National Laboratory before joining the Applied Materials Division at Argonne in 2022.
In addition to his work on Electro-Lith, Dr Adhikari has authored more than 40 scientific publications and holds several US patents. His research focuses on advanced energy materials, including MXenes — a class of two-dimensional materials recognised for their electrical, chemical, and mechanical properties. He remains actively involved in research projects supported by the US Department of Energy to advance future energy storage and electrical infrastructure.
By RSS
