KATHMANDU, AUGUST 19
Nepali-born scientist Dr Shiba P. Adhikari has won the prestigious 2026 R&D 100 Award for his research contribution to Electro-Lith, a battery-manufacturing technology developed at the US Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory.
The technology was selected among the 100 most significant technological innovations recognised by the annual R&D 100 Awards, often described as the "Oscars of Innovation". Argonne National Laboratory announced the recognition in a press release.
Adhikari, a materials scientist at Argonne's Applied Materials Division, has played a key research role in developing Electro-Lith, which uses an electrochemical process to add lithium to battery-active materials and form a protective layer around the particles.
The technology is designed to simplify battery manufacturing and could reduce processing time and energy consumption while lowering production costs. Its potential applications are significant as global demand for lithium-ion batteries grows for electric vehicles, consumer electronics and renewable-energy storage.
Adhikari began his scientific career in Nepal before pursuing higher education abroad. He holds a master's degree in Materials Chemistry from the University of Surrey, UK, and a PhD in Chemistry from Wake Forest University in the US.
He subsequently worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Oak Ridge National Laboratory before joining Argonne National Laboratory in 2022.
His research focuses on advanced materials, battery technologies, electrochemistry and advanced manufacturing. He has authored more than 40 scientific publications and is an inventor on several US patents.
His broader research portfolio includes MXenes and other two-dimensional materials, battery materials, electrocatalysis and emerging energy technologies. He has also contributed to US Department of Energy-supported research into next-generation energy storage and electrical infrastructure.
The R&D 100 Award marks a major international recognition of Adhikari's research and his contribution to developing technologies aimed at making energy systems more efficient and sustainable.