LG Chem has developed an innovative material that promises to significantly improve the safety of lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs) and other devices. This advancement directly addresses a critical challenge: the risk of thermal runaway, a phenomenon where batteries can overheat, catch fire, or even explode.
Thermal runaway occurs when internal components of the battery come into unintended contact, leading to overheating. LG Chem’s solution, the Safety Reinforced Layer (SRL), is designed to stop this chain reaction before it escalates. This temperature-responsive material is incredibly thin, only 1 micrometer thick, or about 100 times thinner than a human hair. It functions by altering its properties when exposed to high heat, suppressing the flow of current to prevent a dangerous temperature spike.
The material is particularly effective in protecting batteries from overheating by responding quickly to temperature changes. Its electrical resistance increases exponentially as temperatures rise, thereby stopping the thermal runaway process early. In addition to this, SRL is also reversible, meaning that once the battery cools down, the material reverts to its normal state, allowing the battery to resume regular operation.
LG Chem has tested SRL extensively, demonstrating its effectiveness in various conditions, including impact and nail penetration tests. Results show a substantial reduction in fire and explosion risks in batteries equipped with SRL compared to standard batteries. For instance, in tests on EV batteries, SRL reduced explosions from 63% to 10%.
The development of SRL was a collaborative effort between LG Chem’s R&D team and academic researchers, and the material can be seamlessly integrated into existing battery production processes. This breakthrough marks a major leap forward in battery safety technology, offering greater confidence in EV safety and strengthening LG Chem’s position in the competitive battery market.
