Scaling Prussian White-Based Sodium-Ion Technology
Publication Details · Originally published by PV Magazine India · 25 August 2025 · Interview by Uma Gupta
Macsen Labs Group CEO Achal Agrawal speaks with pv magazine India about the role of sodium-ion batteries in clean energy storage, Macsen’s Prussian White journey, material performance, and plans for cell technology scale-up.
In an interview with PV Magazine India, Achal Agrawal discussed the role of sodium-ion batteries in the clean-energy transition, particularly in stationary energy storage, renewable energy applications, and short-to-medium-range electric mobility.
The interview also traced Macsen’s journey from chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing into advanced battery materials, beginning with an experimental Prussian White synthesis and progressing toward dedicated electrochemical R&D, coin-cell validation, Hard Carbon development, and plans for pilot-scale cell fabrication.
Why Sodium-Ion Matters
Sodium-ion technology offers a pathway to energy storage based on more widely available and geographically distributed raw materials.
In the interview, Agrawal highlighted the potential advantages of sodium-ion batteries in applications where cost, supply-chain resilience, safety, and scalability are especially important. These include stationary energy storage, solar-linked battery systems, household and commercial backup, industrial vehicles, and selected mobility applications.
Macsen’s Prussian White Journey
Macsen’s work in sodium-ion battery materials began while the company was developing Prussian Blue for pharmaceutical applications.
After identifying Prussian White as a potential sodium-ion cathode material, the team synthesized it in its chemistry laboratory and manually fabricated an early pouch cell without specialized battery equipment. The cell successfully powered an LED, providing the first proof-of-concept and motivating the establishment of a dedicated electrochemical R&D laboratory.
Material Development Beyond Chemical Purity
A central insight from the interview is that battery-grade material development depends on more than chemical purity. Parameters such as crystallinity, surface characteristics, particle size, sodium content, moisture management, and drying conditions can significantly affect battery performance. Macsen’s R&D program therefore combines material synthesis with electrode preparation, cell fabrication, and electrochemical evaluation. This integrated development loop allows the team to connect process variables directly with capacity, cycling stability, and coulombic efficiency.
The interview reports that Macsen achieved approximately 150 mAh/g in optimized coin-cell testing and coulombic efficiency above 99.9% under its internal test conditions.
The interview describes how Macsen subsequently developed an air-stable and highly crystalline Prussian White material and optimized its electrochemical performance through coin-cell testing.
About the Publication
PV Magazine India covers solar energy, energy storage, clean-energy technologies, markets, manufacturing, policy, and project development in India.
Advancing Prussian White from Material to Cell Technology
Macsen Energy is developing battery-grade Prussian White Cathode Active Material, Hard Carbon anode technology, and complete sodium-ion cell solutions for scalable energy-storage applications.
