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Fast and reversible thermoresponsive polymer switching materials for safer batteries

Author

Listed:
  • Zheng Chen

    (Stanford University)

  • Po-Chun Hsu

    (Stanford University)

  • Jeffrey Lopez

    (Stanford University)

  • Yuzhang Li

    (Stanford University)

  • John W. F. To

    (Stanford University)

  • Nan Liu

    (Stanford University)

  • Chao Wang

    (Stanford University)

  • Sean C. Andrews

    (Stanford University)

  • Jia Liu

    (Stanford University)

  • Yi Cui

    (Stanford University)

  • Zhenan Bao

    (Stanford University)

Abstract

Safety issues have been a long-standing obstacle impeding large-scale adoption of next-generation high-energy-density batteries. Materials solutions to battery safety management are limited by slow response and small operating voltage windows. Here we report a fast and reversible thermoresponsive polymer switching material that can be incorporated inside batteries to prevent thermal runaway. This material consists of electrochemically stable graphene-coated spiky nickel nanoparticles mixed in a polymer matrix with a high thermal expansion coefficient. The as-fabricated polymer composite films show high electrical conductivity of up to 50 S cm−1 at room temperature. Importantly, the conductivity decreases within one second by seven to eight orders of magnitude on reaching the transition temperature and spontaneously recovers at room temperature. Batteries with this self-regulating material built in the electrode can rapidly shut down under abnormal conditions such as overheating and shorting, and are able to resume their normal function without performance compromise or detrimental thermal runaway. Our approach offers 103–104 times higher sensitivity to temperature changes than previous switching devices.

Suggested Citation

  • Zheng Chen & Po-Chun Hsu & Jeffrey Lopez & Yuzhang Li & John W. F. To & Nan Liu & Chao Wang & Sean C. Andrews & Jia Liu & Yi Cui & Zhenan Bao, 2016. "Fast and reversible thermoresponsive polymer switching materials for safer batteries," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 1(1), pages 1-2, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natene:v:1:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_nenergy.2015.9
    DOI: 10.1038/nenergy.2015.9
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    Cited by:

    1. Liu, Fen & Wang, Jianfeng & Yang, Na & Wang, Fuqiang & Chen, Yaping & Lu, Dongchen & Liu, Hui & Du, Qian & Ren, Xutong & Shi, Mengyu, 2022. "Experimental study on the alleviation of thermal runaway propagation from an overcharged lithium-ion battery module using different thermal insulation layers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    2. Opitz, A. & Badami, P. & Shen, L. & Vignarooban, K. & Kannan, A.M., 2017. "Can Li-Ion batteries be the panacea for automotive applications?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 68(P1), pages 685-692.
    3. Li, Yong & Yang, Jie & Song, Jian, 2017. "Efficient storage mechanisms and heterogeneous structures for building better next-generation lithium rechargeable batteries," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 1503-1512.
    4. Yang, Yang & Yuan, Wei & Zhang, Xiaoqing & Yuan, Yuhang & Wang, Chun & Ye, Yintong & Huang, Yao & Qiu, Zhiqiang & Tang, Yong, 2020. "Overview on the applications of three-dimensional printing for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    5. Lorenzo Castelli & Qing Zhu & Trevor J. Shimokusu & Geoff Wehmeyer, 2023. "A three-terminal magnetic thermal transistor," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.

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