IEEE Spectrum October 22, 2020
To make lithium-ion batteries lighter, safer and more efficient a team of researchers in the US (Stanford University, SALC National Accelerators Laboratory) redesigned current conductors, thin metal foils that distribute current to and from electrodes, by replacing the all-copper conductor middle, with a layer of lightweight polymer coated in ultrathin copper and embedded fire retardant in the polymer layer to quench flames. The polymer makes the current collector 80 percent lighter, leading to an increase in energy density from 16 to 26 percent. Whenever the battery has combustion issues, the fire retardant embedded inside the collector will instantaneously release the fire retardant and extinguish the fire…read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE
…Batteries with the new flame-retardant collectors (bottom row) produced weak flames that went out within a few seconds and did not flare up again even when the scientists tried to relight them. Credit: Yusheng Ye/Stanford University