2023-10-21 19:10:00
A collaborative research team has achieved a milestone in battery technology. Their achievement in the development of a non-flammable gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) is poised to improve the safety of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) by mitigating the risks of thermal release and fire incidents.
In the past, the potential flammability of LIBs has raised significant concerns, particularly in electric vehicles, where fire hazards pose a serious threat to underground car parks.
A promising solution to mitigate battery fires
In response to this critical problem, the research team, led by Professor Hyun-Kon Song of the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering atUNISTDr. Seo-Hyun Jung of the Advanced Specialty Chemicals Research Center at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (CRIST) and Dr. Tae-Hee Kim from the Ulsan Advanced Energy Technology R&D Center of the Korea Energy Research Institute (KIER), has successfully developed a revolutionary non-flammable polymer semi-solid electrolyte, providing a promising solution for mitigating battery fires.
Traditionally, non-flammable electrolytes have relied heavily on the incorporation of flame retardant additives or solvents with exceptionally high boiling points.
Schematic image describing the operating principles of non-flammable gel electrolytes. Credit : Unist
These methods often resulted in a considerable decrease in ionic conductivity, compromising the overall performance of the electrolyte.
An innovative approach
In their groundbreaking research, the research team introduced a tiny amount of polymer into the electrolyte, creating a semi-solid electrolyte. This innovative approach dramatically increased the conductivity of lithium ions by 33% compared to existing liquid electrolytes.
Additionally, pouch-type batteries incorporating this non-flammable semi-solid electrolyte showed a remarkable 110% improvement in life characteristics, effectively preventing unnecessary electrolyte reactions during the formation and operation of the electrolyte interface layer. solid (BE).
Synthetic
The key advantage of this innovative electrolyte lies in its exceptional performance and non-combustibility. By suppressing radical chain reactions with fuel compounds during the combustion process, the semi-solid polymer electrolyte effectively inhibits the occurrence of battery fires.
Nail penetration into 650 mAh NCM811||graphite pouch cells (a to c) Voltage and temperature profiles (d to f).
The research team demonstrated the excellence of the developed polymer by quantitatively analyzing its ability to stabilize and suppress radicals. This breakthrough will greatly contribute to the understanding of the mechanism of non-flammable electrolytes.
For a better understanding
What is non-flammable gel polymer electrolyte (GPE)?
It is a major innovation in lithium-ion battery (LIB) technology that aims to improve safety by mitigating the risks of thermal release and fire incidents.
What’s the problem with traditional non-flammable electrolytes?
Traditional non-flammable electrolytes rely heavily on the incorporation of flame retardant additives or solvents with exceptionally high boiling points. However, these methods often resulted in a considerable decrease in ionic conductivity, compromising the overall performance of the electrolyte.
What is the solution proposed by the research team?
The research team introduced a tiny amount of polymer into the electrolyte, creating a semi-solid electrolyte. This approach dramatically increased the conductivity of lithium ions by 33% compared to existing liquid electrolytes.
What are the advantages of this semi-solid electrolyte?
Pouch-type batteries incorporating this non-flammable semi-solid electrolyte showed a remarkable 110% improvement in life characteristics, effectively preventing unnecessary electrolyte reactions during the formation and operation of the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer. ).
What’s next for this technology?
The use of non-flammable semi-solid electrolytes, which can be directly incorporated into existing battery assembly processes, will accelerate the future commercialization of safer batteries.
Source: Research team led by Professor Hyun-Kon Song from the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering at UNIST, Dr Seo-Hyun Jung from the Research Center for Advanced Specialty Chemicals at the Institute of Research in Chemical Technology of Korea (KRICT), and Dr. Tae-Hee Kim of Ulsan Advanced Energy Technology R&D Center of Korea Energy Research Institute (KIER)
Jihong Jeong, Mideum Kim, Hyeju Shin, et al., “Fire-Inhibiting Nonflammable Gel Polymer Electrolyte for Lithium-Ion Batteries,” ACS Energy Lett.(2023).
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