Gum-Like Material Prevents Lithium Battery Fires

Feb-08-14 A new material inspired by gum could help reduce the chances of a high-capacity lithium battery catching fire due to overheating and leaking.

Conventional high performance lithium batteries contain a liquid or gel electrolyte solution, which can leak and possibly create a fire or chemical burn. At the request of his teacher, who instructed her students to create an electrolyte substance that would stay attached to the anode and cathode “like when you get chewing gum on your shoe,” graduate student Yu “Will” Wang developed a gummy lithium battery electrolyte that functions as well as a liquid.

The electrolyte gum is made up of liquid electrolyte material that is attached to solid particles of a material such as wax. The current can travel easily through the liquid, but if the material overheats, the solid material will melt and stop any electric conduction, preventing a potential fire. The new material should be easy to incorporate into current battery designs.

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[GIZMAG.COM]
[WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY]

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