Summary
- LG Chem developed a temperature-responsive Safety Reinforced Layer (SRL) to suppress thermal runaway in batteries
- The SRL material, as thin as 1/100th the diameter of a human hair, acts as a fuse to prevent battery fires
- The research findings were published in Nature Communications, a top scientific journal
- The SRL material changes its molecular structure in response to heat, blocking the flow of electricity in overheating batteries
- LG Chem plans to enhance safety technologies for electric vehicles and strengthen competitiveness in the battery market
Article
LG Chem has developed a temperature-responsive Safety Reinforced Layer (SRL) to suppress thermal runaway in batteries, preventing fires at the early stage. This material acts as a “fuse” to block the reaction path at the early stages of overheating. The research paper detailing this breakthrough was published in Nature Communications, a top scientific journal, in September. The thin layer of the material, just 1 micrometer thick, is positioned between the cathode layer and the current collector in the battery. It reacts to heat, altering its molecular structure and suppressing the flow of current when the battery’s temperature rises beyond the normal range.
The thermal runaway suppression material developed by LG Chem changes its electrical resistance based on temperature, with its resistance increasing by 5,000 ohms for every 1°C rise in temperature. This material is highly responsive to temperature, with its maximum resistance being over 1,000 times higher than normal temperatures. It features reversibility, allowing the current to flow normally again once the temperature drops. This material is effective in preventing fires by quickly blocking the reaction path at the early stages of overheating, which is a leading cause of electric vehicle battery fires.
Safety verification tests for the thermal runaway suppression material have shown promising results. In impact and penetration tests on batteries equipped with the material, the batteries either did not catch fire at all or extinguished the flames shortly after they appeared. In a penetration test with mobile LCO batteries, none of the batteries with the thermal runaway suppression material ignited compared to 16% of regular batteries. In an impact test with NCM batteries for electric vehicles, 70% of the batteries with the material did not ignite, and the remaining 30% saw flames that were extinguished within seconds.
LG Chem has successfully developed a material that addresses issues encountered in previous methods of placing temperature-responsive materials inside the battery cell, such as slow reaction times and reduced energy density. The company plans to continue safety testing for large-capacity electric vehicle batteries through next year. Lee Jong-gu, CTO of LG Chem, expressed confidence in the research breakthrough and its potential for mass production. The goal is to enhance safety technologies for electric vehicles, strengthen competitiveness in the battery market, and ensure customers can use electric vehicles with confidence.
In conclusion, LG Chem’s development of a temperature-responsive Safety Reinforced Layer to suppress thermal runaway in batteries is a significant breakthrough in battery safety technology. The material acts as a “fuse” to prevent fires at the early stage of overheating, making it an effective solution for preventing thermal runaway, a leading cause of electric vehicle battery fires. With promising results from safety verification tests, LG Chem is poised to enhance safety technologies for electric vehicles and strengthen its position in the battery market.
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