A team of researchers at the Stanford University have developed a lithium-ion battery that contains a fire- extinguishing material which would be released when triggered due to increased temperature.
The team has fabricated a core-shell microfiber separator with thermal triggered flame-retardant properties for lithium-ion batteries. A flame retardant material known as teriphenyl phosphate (TPP) is induced inside the shell.
“The encapsulation of TPP inside the PVDF-HFP protective polymer shell has prevented direct exposure of the flame retardant to the electrolyte and has largely slowed down its dissolution, preventing negative effects from the retardants on the electrochemical performance of the battery,” according to the information revealed on the Science Advances.
If thermal runaway of the lithium-ion battery happens, the shell will melt as temperature increases (above 150 Celsius) and then the encapsulated TPP flame retardant will be released into the electrolyte, thus effectively suppressing the combustion of the highly flammable electrolytes.
