Polymer takes the heat out of batteries

By Matthew Gunther2016-03-11T00:00:00

Source: © Nature Publishing Group

Polymer electrode coating may help prevent lithium battery fires

Found in everything from laptops to smart watches, lithium-ion batteries are ubiquitous in the modern world and have revolutionised consumer electronics. But flaws have become apparent when the cell is used in some specific industrial settings, such as aboard Boeing’s new 787 aeroplanes: if a lithium-ion battery is shorted or overcharged, heat is generated as a series of exothermic reactions are triggered.

Now scientists in the US have designed a reusable lithium-ion battery that will shut down under extreme temperatures and only work again once the device has cooled. The innovation may help to prevent battery fires in specialised lithium-ion technologies.

This article provides a link to coverage by Chemistry World.

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