Latest inventions in science and technology
Zinc-Air Battery Technology
- Context: Indian scientists developed low-cost zinc-air battery technologies for energy storage and electric vehicles.
About Zinc-Air Battery Technology
- Zinc-air batteries are a type of metal-air battery.
- They use zinc (Zn) as the anode and oxygen (O₂) from the air as the cathode.
- They have high energy density and high efficiency.
- Commonly used in low-power devices such as hearing aids and medical equipment.
- They are also being developed for electric vehicles (EVs) and grid energy storage.
Working mechanism
- At the Anode (Zinc Electrode):
- Zinc reacts (oxidation) and releases electrons.
- These electrons move through an external circuit to produce electricity.
- At the Cathode (Oxygen Electrode):
- Oxygen from the air reacts with water and electrons to produce hydroxide ions (OH⁻).
Types of Zinc-Air Batteries
- Primary (Non-Rechargeable): Used in hearing aids, clocks, cameras, etc.
- Rechargeable: Still under development.
- Expected to be used in electric vehicles and large-scale energy storage.
Applications
- Hearing Aids: Small, lightweight, and long-lasting.
- Medical Devices: Used in pacemakers and other wearable medical devices.
- Consumer Electronics: Used in watches, cameras, and toys.
- Electric Vehicles & Grid Storage: Being researched for high-energy storage and longer driving range.
Space
INSAT-3DR
- Background: Recent visible and infrared images from INSAT-3DR showed that approximately 60–70% of India’s landmass was covered by clouds.
About INSAT-3DR
- INSAT-3DR (Indian National Satellite-3DR) is an advanced meteorological satellite developed by ISRO.
- Launch Date: September 8, 2016.
- Launch Vehicle: GSLV-F05.
Objectives
- Improving weather forecasting.
- Monitoring cyclones.
- Providing disaster warnings.
- Monitoring the environment of India and surrounding regions.
Key Features
- Equipped with an imaging system and an atmospheric sounder.
- Like INSAT-3D, it carries a data relay transponder and a search-and-rescue transponder.
- Ensures continuity of ISRO’s meteorological and search-and-rescue services.
- Provides multispectral images every 30 minutes from its geostationary orbit over the Indian region.
Key Improvements
- Mid-infrared imaging enables the capture of low-level clouds and fog at night.
- Uses two thermal bands for more accurate estimation of sea surface temperature.
- Offers high spatial resolution in visible and thermal infrared bands, providing clear and detailed images.
