Authors:

Alex Author

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About Paper:

Lithium-ion batteries are valued for their high energy density, longer lifespan, and faster charging times compared to other batteries, including lead-acid and alkaline batteries. However, upon experiencing physical damage, exposure to excessive heat, or being overcharged or overdischarged, the batteries are prone to undergo thermal runaway: a self-sustaining cycle of heating which can lead to harmful gas production, ignition, and detonation. This research aims to develop a fire suppressant that can be dispersed upon a battery undergoing thermal runaway to halt the reaction and prevent the dangerous effects. The first phase of the research focused on various analysis techniques on charged and discharged batteries of varying number of cycles, including gas chromatography, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. These tests collected data such as onset temperature of thermal runaway and infrared spectra for material analysis. The second phase of the research will deal with producing fire suppressants out of foaming agents, phase change materials, and encapsulation agents. These will be tested on batteries undergoing thermal runaway in a combustion chamber built by the research group. Our analysis techniques from the first phase demonstrated that the volatility of a battery generally increases with each cycle and as a battery's state of charge increases. The combustion chamber tests will determine the effectiveness of our developed fire suppressants. This research addresses the issue of thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries. Further research into suppression techniques is crucial to make lithium-ion batteries safer for use. Keywords: Lithium-Ion Batteries; Thermal Runaway; Fire Suppression; Material Characterization

Source:

Purdue University / 2025

Topics:

No topics listed

Co-authors:

Alex Author