Nanowires make lithium-ion batteries safer to eliminate fire hazards

In a lithium-ion battery (LIB), lithium ions move back and forth between electrodes through an electrolyte. The traditional LIB has a liquid electrolyte made of salt and organic solvents, but is prone to evaporation and can cause fires. Then researchers have turned their attention to solid electrolytes as a potential replacement. Several options have been proposed for solid electrolytes, but most are unstable or do not meet large-scale needs. Polymer electrolytes have shown potential because they are stable, cheap and resilient; But they have poor electrical and mechanical properties. The scientists have been adding a series of compounds to strengthen electrolytes. XinyongTao and his colleagues previously made magnesium borate (Mg2B2O5) nanowires with good mechanical properties and electrical conductivity.

They wanted to see if these properties would be added to the battery when the nanowires were added to the solid polymer electrolyte. Their team mixed solid electrolytes with 5,10,15 and 20 percent Mg2B2O5 nanowires by weight. They observed that the nanowires increased the electrical conductivity of the electrolyte and that they sustained more stress than electrolytes without nanowires. The increased conductivity is due to the faster increase in the number of ions passing through the electrolyte. They also tested the flammability of the electrolyte and found it barely burned. When the nanowire-enhanced electrolyte is paired with the cathode and anode, as it would be if it were placed in a battery, the setting has better multiplier performance and higher cycle capacity than batteries without nanowires.

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries power almost all of our lives. From our smartphones to laptops to our electric cars, where would we be without them? Well, to be honest, somewhere is safer and less flammable.

Unfortunately, lithium-ion batteries can easily add fuel to the fire, as the ubiquity of rechargeable batteries has shown in numerous recent fires. Whether it's a tesla s-type cigarette going up, a recall of an HP laptop or the famous Samsung GalaxyNote7 fire collapsing, lithium-ion batteries are frankly quite flammable.

However, according to a new study published in the journal of the American chemical society NanoLetters, there may be a way to completely eliminate the fire risk of lithium-ion batteries, and the answer lies in nanowires.

The lithium is the least dense metal element, which is why lithium-ion batteries are so common - they can accommodate more power than other types of batteries. The problem is that lithium is also highly reactive and contains sodium and potassium.

Like all batteries, lithium-ion batteries have two electrodes separated by an electrolyte. Inside, there is an electrolyte solution of lithium salts and solvents, and there is a fine-tuned equilibrium between it and the electrodes.

When the battery is charged, the lithium ion solution flows from the electrolyte to the carbon anode and back when the battery is discharged. Obviously, if this balance is thrown, this is the main venue for the strike disaster. If the components are combined, the battery can overheat and explode.

How can nanowires be used to prevent fires in lithium-ion batteries?

The usage of solid electrolytes has been demonstrated in the laboratory to eliminate fire hazards from lithium-ion batteries. Unfortunately, solid electrolytes are difficult to scale up and certainly not cheap, so this is not a viable solution in the long run.

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