New battery technology could lead to safer electric vehicles
University of Maryland researchers have developed a new battery technology for next-generation EVs that reduces the risk of battery fires whilst increasing energy storage.
The new technology, first presented in Nature on October 25, 2023, suppresses the growth of lithium dendrites in lithium-ion batteries, which are branch-like structures that can cause short circuits and lead to failures in the long term.
This new design for a battery ‘interlayer’ is said to stop dendrite formation and could lead to the production of safer all-solid-state batteries for EVs, according to the researchers.
Lithium-ion batteries are popular for EVs due to their high energy storage, but they contain a flammable liquid electrolyte component that burns when overheated. The US National Transportation Safety Board reports that first responders are vulnerable to safety risks, including electric shock and the exposure to toxic gasses emanating from damaged or burning batteries.
The researchers aimed to offer a solution to this risk by stabilising the battery’s interfaces between the solid electrolyte and the anode and the electrolyte and the cathode.
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