LG Chem Finds Key to Suppressing Thermal Runaway in Batteries – CleanTechnica – TechnoNews

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“Prevents EV Fires Like a Fuse”
LG Chem Finds Key to Suppressing Thermal Runaway in Batteries

□ Developed temperature-responsive materials to suppress thermal runaway; Paper revealed in a number one scientific journal

□ Temperature-responsive materials as skinny as 1/100 the diameter of a human hair, positioned contained in the battery cell

□ Acts as a “fuse” to dam the response path on the early phases of overheating

□ Analysis paper revealed in Nature Communications, one of many world’s prime scientific journals, in September

■ Lee Jong-gu, CTO, acknowledged:

“This is a tangible research breakthrough that can be applied to mass production in a short period.”

“We will enhance safety technologies so that customers can use electric vehicles with confidence, and further strengthen our competitiveness in the battery market.”

LG Chem Develops New Materials to Suppress Thermal Runaway, Stopping Battery Fires on the Early Stage

LG Chem introduced on the first that its Platform Know-how R&D staff, below the CTO division, has developed a temperature-responsive Security Strengthened Layer (SRL), a cloth designed to suppress thermal runaway. In collaboration with Professor Lee Minah’s staff from the Division of Battery Science at POSTECH, the fabric was analyzed, whereas the security verification was carried out in partnership with LG Power Resolution. The analysis findings had been revealed on-line within the September version of Nature Communications, one of many world’s main scientific journals.

*Paper title: “Thermal Runaway Prevention through Scalable Fabrication of Safety Reinforced Layer in Practical Li-ion Batteries”

The thermal runaway suppression materials developed by LG Chem is a composite materials that adjustments its electrical resistance based mostly on temperature, performing as a “fuse” that blocks the move of electrical energy within the early phases of overheating.

The analysis staff created this thermal runaway suppression materials within the type of a skinny layer, simply 1 micrometer (1μm) thick—about 1/a centesimal the thickness of a human hair—positioned between the cathode layer and the present collector (an aluminum foil that acts because the electron pathway) within the battery. When the battery’s temperature rises past the traditional vary, between 90°C and 130°C, the fabric reacts to the warmth, altering its molecular construction and successfully suppressing the move of present.

This thermal runaway suppression materials is extremely attentive to temperature, with its electrical resistance growing by 5,000 ohms (Ω) for each 1°C rise in temperature. The fabric’s most resistance is over 1,000 instances increased than at regular temperatures, and it additionally options reversibility, that means the resistance decreases and returns to its unique state, permitting the present to move usually once more as soon as the temperature drops.

Thermal runaway, a number one trigger of electrical car battery fires, happens when the cathode and anode contained in the battery unintentionally come into direct contact, inflicting a brief circuit and producing warmth. Inside seconds, the temperature can rise to almost 1,000°C, resulting in a fireplace. The thermal runaway suppression materials is anticipated to be efficient in stopping fires by shortly blocking the response path on the early phases of overheating.

In each battery affect and penetration exams, the batteries geared up with the thermal runaway suppression materials both didn’t catch hearth in any respect or extinguished the flames shortly after they appeared, stopping a full-blown thermal runaway occasion.

In a penetration take a look at involving cell LCO (Lithium Cobalt Oxide) batteries, the place a nail was used to puncture the battery, solely 16% of standard batteries didn’t catch hearth. Nevertheless, not one of the batteries with the thermal runaway suppression materials skilled any hearth incidents.

In an affect take a look at on NCM (Nickel Cobalt Manganese) batteries for electrical autos, the place a 10kg weight was dropped onto the batteries, the entire commonplace batteries caught hearth. In distinction, 70% of the batteries geared up with the thermal runaway suppression materials didn’t ignite in any respect, whereas the remaining 30% noticed flames, however they had been extinguished inside seconds.

Whereas earlier strategies concerned putting temperature-responsive supplies contained in the battery cell, they usually confronted points with sluggish response instances or decreased power density. LG Chem, nonetheless, has efficiently developed a cloth that resolves such points, backed by their experience and patented materials design, permitting for speedy utility in mass manufacturing processes.

LG Chem has accomplished security verification exams for the thermal runaway suppression materials in cell batteries and plans to proceed security testing for large-capacity electrical car batteries by subsequent yr.

Lee Jong-gu, CTO of LG Chem, acknowledged, “This is a tangible research achievement that can be applied to mass production in a short period of time. We will enhance safety technology to ensure customers can use electric vehicles with confidence and contribute to strengthening our competitiveness in the battery market.”

※ Paper Data

• Title: Thermal Runaway Prevention by Scalable Fabrication of Security Strengthened Layer in Sensible Li-ion Batteries
• Lead Creator: In-taek Track, Senior Researcher (Skilled), LG Chem
• Corresponding Authors: Ki Hwan Kim, Analysis Fellow, LG Chem; Minah Lee, Professor, POSTECH
• Materials Verification and Evaluation: POSTECH, LG Power Resolution

Supply: LG Chem