Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in the United States have developed a special additive for lithium-ion batteries that makes them resistant to damage and prevents fires when dropped or impacted.
Traditional batteries have electrodes separated by a thin plastic layer. If this plastic layer is damaged, the electrodes can come into contact, leading to short circuits and fires.
This new material behaves like a "non-Newtonian fluid." It remains liquid until impacted, but upon sudden impact, it instantly hardens, preventing the electrodes from contacting.
To achieve this, Gabriel Veit's team used spherical silica particles just 200 nanometers in diameter. The technology is called SAFIRE (Safe Impact Resistant Electrolyte). The company has expanded its research in Tennessee and plans to apply this solution to electric vehicles and even vertical take-off and landing (EVTOL) aircraft. The technology will also reduce battery weight by eliminating thick shielding layers.
