Graphene foil promises to thwart thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries

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The safety and performance of lithium-ion batteries could be improved following the development of a technique for producing large-scale graphene current collectors by researchers in Wales and China.

Researchers at Swansea University, in collaboration with Wuhan University of Technology, Shenzhen University, have developed a pioneering technique for producing large-scale graphene current collectors
Researchers at Swansea University, in collaboration with Wuhan University of Technology, Shenzhen University, have developed a pioneering technique for producing large-scale graphene current collectors - Swansea University

Published in Nature Chemical Engineering, the study - by a team at Swansea University in collaboration with Wuhan University of Technology and Shenzhen University - details the first successful protocol for fabricating defect-free graphene foils on a commercial scale.

The foils are fabricated through a continuous thermal pressing process and are said to offer thermal conductivity up to 1,400.8 W m–1 K–1, which is nearly ten times higher than traditional copper and aluminium current collectors used in LIBs.

In a statement, Dr Rui Tan, co-lead author from Swansea University, said: “This is a significant step forward for battery technology. Our method allows for the production of graphene current collectors at a scale and quality that can be readily integrated into commercial battery manufacturing. This not only improves battery safety by efficiently managing heat but also enhances energy density and longevity.”

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graphene current collector