Flame-resistant lithium metal batteries: Innovative design combines fire-repellent materials
Lithium metal batteries, renowned for their high energy density, have been plagued by safety concerns due to their propensity for overheating, explosions, and fires. However, a groundbreaking development by a Chinese research team has introduced an integrated flame retardant that significantly enhances the safety of these batteries.
The flame retardant, designed specifically for lithium metal batteries, activates at 100°C, automatically triggering the fire protection system. At temperatures above 100 °C, the flame retardant decomposes, releasing radicals that prevent chemical reactions at the anode and chemically suppress combustion. This innovative approach inhibits thermal runaway at the material level, a primary cause of battery fires and explosions in lithium metal systems.
The integrated flame retardant modifies the conventional liquid electrolyte, reducing battery flammability without compromising ionic conductivity or performance. It acts as a fire inhibitor, intervening in the combustion process to prevent ignition and flame propagation internally. Additionally, certain thermal interface materials (TIMs) used alongside can passively suppress flames while enhancing heat dissipation during normal operation.
This integrated flame retardant offers several benefits:
- Chemically interfering with combustion reactions inside the battery
- Reducing or eliminating ignition risk of volatile electrolytes
- Suppressing thermal runaway propagation at its source
- Enabling lighter, space-efficient safety without external fire suppression components
This intrinsic fire resistance is crucial for applications like electric vehicles and portable electronics where weight and space constraints limit bulky external safety systems.
The study's findings suggest that the integrated flame retardant could mitigate the fire hazard associated with lithium metal batteries. The researchers believe their flame retardant technology can increase the safety of high-energy lithium metal batteries.
The study, titled "A fire-safe Li metal battery via smart gas management," was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The manufacturing process for integrating the flame retardant into the batteries can be done with only a few changes to the production process.
Encouragingly, the battery with flame suppression only reached a maximum temperature of 220°C and did not catch fire or explode. This development could potentially increase the use of lithium metal batteries in devices and electric cars, making them a safer and more viable option for energy storage.
References:
- Fire suppression via electrolyte and material-level integration using organophosphates and other inhibitors acting as free radical scavengers to chemically damp flames and stop thermal runaway [1].
- Devices equipped with the flame retardant feature in lithium metal batteries should be better protected against fires.
- The flame retardant can potentially increase the use of lithium metal batteries in devices and electric cars.
- The scientists believe their integrated flame retardant could make lithium metal batteries suitable for electric cars.
- The overheating of lithium metal batteries can be triggered by a reaction between the lithium metal anodes and high-voltage nickel-rich oxide cathodes, producing flammable gases.
- The Chinese research team's solution for lithium metal battery safety involves inserting a polymer into the cathode of the battery that releases fire-retardant chemicals when the temperature rises.
- The study's findings suggest that the integrated flame retardant could mitigate the fire hazard associated with lithium metal batteries.
- The researchers believe their flame retardant technology can increase the safety of high-energy lithium metal batteries.
- The Chinese research team's study, titled "A fire-safe Li metal battery via smart gas management," was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
- The battery with flame suppression only reached a maximum temperature of 220°C and did not catch fire or explode.
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