Goodbye EV Fires? Researchers Preview Method for Safer Solid-State Batteries

30.10.2023 - 20:57 / pcmag.com

Researchers at the University of Maryland say they've found a way for EVs to store more energy, therefore increasing their range, without a corresponding increase in fire risk.

The study specifically pertains to solid-state batteries, a next-gen technology that promises to double or triple the range of EVs. However, more energy in one place could mean more risk of fire—one barrier to commercialization, according to ScienceDaily.

Solid-state batteries have a low risk of fire compared to their lithium-ion counterparts. But Chunsheng Wang, a professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering who led the study, says his team designed an "interlayer" that goes inside the battery to further reduce the chance of fires.

That layer, rich in fluorine, suppresses thermal runaway, or the phenomenon that causes EV battery fires. Thermal runaway is defined as an uncontrolled reaction within the battery that generates more heat than it can dissipate, according to UL Research Institutes.

No government agency currently tracks vehicle fires by car type, according to MarylandToday, though EV fires appear to be rare. However, when they do occur they are difficult to put out, taking more time and resources from firefighters and other first responders.

The interlayer limits thermal runaway by creating a barrier between the anode on one side, cathode on the other, and the solid electrolyte between them. Specifically, this prevents lithium dendrites from forming—small, needle-like structures that cause the problem.

Solid Power, a solid-state battery manufacturer, has taken notice of Wang's team's work. It plans to begin trials of the new technology for commercialization, hopefully by 2026. However, more obstacles need to be overcome to make solid-state EVs a reality, Wang says, including bringing down the cost of their basic components.

Other automakers and battery manufacturers are also working to bring solid-state EVs to market. Toyota says it has solved commercialization challenges, and is set to debut them by the end of the decade. It's unclear how similar Toyota's method is, as the company is keeping its plans close to the vest. All we know is that it found a proprietary material for the solid electrolyte.

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