Researchers create battery that protects itself against overheating

American scientists have developed a modified lithium-ion battery with built-in protection against overheating. If the temperature in the battery becomes too high, a shutdown mechanism will automatically activate.

The battery was designed by researchers affiliated with Stanford University, PC World reports based on a research publication published in Nature Energy. According to the scientists, the modified lithium-ion battery has a polyethylene fleece with nickel-based nanospikes. These spikes have a graphene coating, which can conduct electricity and keep the circuit closed.

The overheating mechanism works because the fleece expands with increasing temperatures. When that happens, the individual spikes stop touching each other, breaking the circuit and automatically turning the battery ‘off’. It is also possible to choose a preset limit temperature by applying more or fewer spikes in the fleece.

The battery may offer a solution for devices where overheating is lurking. Recently, so-called ‘hoverboards’, a type of electric skateboard with wheels on the side, have been in the news because of the risk of ignition. Several companies are experiencing problems, which has caused some stores to stop selling them. However, the Stanford scientists have not yet said when the battery they have developed will be commercially available.