Chinese scientists have achieved a significant breakthrough in the development of sodium-ion batteries by completely preventing thermal runaway. A research team led by Professor Hu Yongsheng from the Institute of Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a battery that utilizes a novel polymerizable non-flammable electrolyte (PNE) with a self-protection mechanism. According to the researchers, this is the first instance of such a result globally. Reports Ixbt.com.
The innovative system is based on triethyl phosphate, which remains non-flammable and can rapidly polymerize when temperatures rise. This process creates a protective barrier within the battery, isolating the electrodes and blocking mechanical and chemical interactions between them. This feature, as explained by the researchers, is what allows the complete cessation of the thermal runaway chain reaction.
The technology was experimentally validated on a 3.5 Ah sodium-ion cell encased in steel. It maintained functionality even at 300 °C and successfully passed a nail penetration test, one of the most rigorous battery safety tests. During the test, there was no smoke, fire, or explosion observed.
Moreover, the new design does not compromise on operational parameters. The developers claim a wide operating temperature range from -40 to +60 °C and a high energy density of 211 Wh/kg. It is also noteworthy that all materials used in the new battery are already mature industrial products, suggesting that this development is not just a laboratory result but a potentially viable foundation for the further industrialization of sodium-ion batteries.
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