Fire-proof Li-ion batteries enabled by a zeolite separator and a fire-resistant electrolyte

Lithium-ion batteries serve as energy-storage media for electric vehicles, grid-scale storage systems, mobile communication devices, and equipment used in hazardous environments. However, existing lithium-ion batteries cannot yet be produced at low cost, in a scalable manner, while also meeting the requirement of being free from fire and explosion risks. In addition, commercially available separators typically require complex cooling systems. Our battery technology eliminates fire and explosion hazards and operates with a far simpler cooling system, significantly reducing the overall cost of the battery pack.

 

Researchers at Arizona State have developed a fire-proof battery by replacing the flammable polymeric separator and carbonate electrolyte with a non-flammable electrode-coated zeolite separator and fire-resistant organic electrolyte. The developed battery also shows stable long-term cycling up to temperatures of 65 °C, with traditional NMC and Graphite electrodes. These attributes are currently not shown by any present commercial battery systems and present the use of these batteries where safety and performance under conditions of thermal stress are critical. The manufacturing process of these batteries can be seamlessly integrated into the current existing equipment of the industry which makes the adoption of this technology economically feasible and commercially scalable.

 

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