New Lithium Battery Techology Could Warn Before the Battery Bursts Into Flames

Stanford researchers have come up with a solution for the dangers surrounding lithium batteries catching fire. A group has designed an early warning system for lithium batteries that would warn device users and bring the battery voltage to zero to avoid disaster.

As quoted in the publication:

In a paper published today in Nature Communications, four Stanford researchers named Hui Wu, Denys Zhuo, Desheng Kong, and Yi Cui detailed how they invented a simple solution to the exploding battery conundrum. It’s all about detecting leaks in that separator between the electrodes. The team created a super-thin layer of copper and inserted it between the anode and cathode. If one leaks into the other, the copper will detect it—and the battery’s voltage will fall to zero.

It might seem like a small change, especially considering the one-or-two-in-a-million chances of your phone exploding in your pocket. But seen in light of the impending influx of even more li-ion battery-powered devices in our lives, it’s more important than ever.

Click here to read the full article.