UA Little Rock awarded ARA Impact Grant for cutting edge research
July 28 - August 3, 2025
By Angelita Faller
Dr. Noureen Siraj, associate professor of chemistry at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, has been awarded a $34,250 Impact Grant from the Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA) to support cutting-edge research in energy storage technology. Her project aims to develop a high-capacity,
cost-effective lithium-ion battery using advanced nano composite materials.
The grant will fund Dr. Siraj’s research project titled, “Nano V₂O₅-PNDC Composite Cathode for High-Energy-Density Lithium-Ion Batteries.” The work focuses on improving the performance, safety, and durability of lithium-ion batteries through the development of a new composite cathode that combines vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) with phosphorus and nitrogen-doped carbon (PNDC).
“I am very excited to receive this grant,” Siraj said. “This funding will help us advance our battery research and bring new energy technology to Arkansas industries. I’m also thrilled to involve an undergraduate and graduate student in this project. They’ll gain valuable skills in nanomaterial synthesis, battery fabrication, and performance testing.”
Siraj has partnered with US Vanadium LLC, an Arkansas-based supplier of vanadium oxides, to support the research. The partnership will allow for real-world application and testing of the composite materials and may lead to broader collaborations with industry partners across the state.
The project addresses a growing global need for sustainable, high-performance energy storage as demand increases in electronics, transportation, and renewable energy. By enhancing the structural integrity and conductivity of V₂O₅-based cathodes, Siraj hopes to overcome common issues like poor cycling performance, vanadium dissolution, and structural degradation.
“This new battery design could offer much higher energy density and better long-term performance,” Siraj said. “It also has the potential to be adapted to other battery systems like zinc-ion and calcium-ion batteries.”
This research aligns closely with Arkansas’s strategic innovation goals outlined in the state’s 2024 Science & Technology Plan, which identifies “advanced energy” and “lithium” technologies as key areas for economic growth.
Siraj’s project is one of four new ARA Impact Grant recipients selected from research institutions across the state. The grants fund 12-month scientific and engineering projects that partner Arkansas universities with industry collaborators. Other awardees include researchers at the University of Arkansas and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
“ARA is deeply committed to providing assistance to science that makes a significant contribution to industries essential to Arkansas,” ARA President and CEO Bryan Barnhouse said. “When we saw an opportunity to extend the grants program to additional competitive projects, we were delighted to take it.”
Dr. Siraj, who joined UA Little Rock in 2016, is known for her work in nanomaterials and renewable energy applications. Her team will conduct the research at the university’s newly developed battery laboratory, where students will gain experience in material synthesis, battery design, and electrochemical analysis.
“Our team is touching every part of this project to build highly efficient batteries,” Siraj said. “It’s an exciting step forward not only for us but for the state’s energy innovation goals.”
Photo Caption:
Dr. Siraj, who joined UA Little Rock in 2016, is known for her work in nanomaterials and renewable energy applications. Her team will conduct the research at the university’s newly developed battery laboratory.
Photo Credit:
(Photo provided)
