EV battery which can extinguish fire on its own: DGIST invents new battery tech
As the world continues to investigate and develop new EV battery technologies to improve electric vehicles, the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) in South Korea has claimed to develop a battery which can extinguish fire on its own while continuing its function even after 1,000 charging cycles, HT Auto reported. The all-new lithium metal battery uses a triple-layer solid polymer electrolyte to provide extra protection against fire. However, it is yet to be clarified when this technology will get into commercial space.
In the field of EV battery technology, the DGIST's lithium battery for electric vehicles may transition the existing Industry into a new age. In conventional solid polymer electrolyte battery packs, lithium-ion creates tiny tree-like structures called dendrites when the battery is being charged and discharged. These dendrites can weaken a battery's internal connections, greatly raising the possibility of explosions and fires. For lithium battery packs to reach their full potential, this risk factor has proven crucial.
The innovative triple-layer electrolyte engineering of the new battery is intended to improve performance and structural and thermal safety, according to DGIST. This battery features a solid central layer that enhances the battery's structural integrity and guards against thermal issues like fire, while the soft outside layers guarantee optimal contact with the electrodes. Decabromodiphenyl ethane, a fire suppressant, is present in high concentrations together with zeolite and lithium salt. The total strength of the battery pack is said to be strengthened by this.
Additionally, the DGIST asserts that this battery pack retains a sizable amount of power even after numerous charging cycles, in addition to improving fire safety. The battery is said to retrain 87.9% of its power after 1,000 cycles of charging and draining. The majority of the batteries used in the current generation of EVs lose 20–30% of their capacity during the same number of charging cycles, therefore this is yet another major advancement in battery technology.