A team of scientists published a report in Nature Journal on February 5, 2024 that makes remarkable reading. They found a way to stop flammable battery electrolytes burning, by adding a fire suppression chemical to the liquid. If they could commercialize their fire extinguisher in a battery, then this could significantly contribute to safer batteries.
A Fire Extinguisher In a Battery Would Be a Breakthrough
Lithium-ion, and other liquid electrolyte batteries may not be sustainable in the long run, while they contain flammable molecules. This is because improving safety often comes at a cost, and may retard performance according to the researchers.
The scientists claim their fire extinguisher in a battery bucks this trend. That’s because it combines flame resistance, cost advantage, and excellent cycling performance in both potassium-ion, and lithium-ion batteries. Remarkably, they achieved this quite easily by adding two chemicals already on the market:
- Their flame-proof solution performed well at temperatures ranging from −75 to 80 °C(-103 to 176 °F).
- Potassium-metal batteries achieved 12 months cycling, with graphite anodes at 93% capacity after 2,400 cycles.
- Lithium-ion 18650 cells achieved 200 cycles while retaining 96% capacity, despite operating ‘under harsh conditions’.
The scientists claim they achieved a design, ‘where nearly all factors that matter to the sustainability of batteries can be well balanced’.
More About This Remarkable Discovery
The Conversation website published an interview with the researchers on February 6, 2024. We visited, and learned the team replaced a lithium and organic salt electrolyte with materials used in fire extinguishers. These were commercial coolants used to kill conventional fires.
Their fire extinguisher in a battery was able to transfer heat away from their experimental cells. Specific experiments included hammering a stainless steel nail into one of these. This caused the short-circuit they expected, but the battery did not catch fire.
Chemicals in batteries naturally warm as they charge and discharge. This is due to resistance to ions flowing through inside. This phenomenon can lead to a thermal runaway of high heat, if the battery design cannot control it. This new design certainly seems to achieve this, making what appears to be a remarkable break through.
More Information
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Preview Image: A Lithium-Ion Battery Charging
