Researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Engineering have published a paper in journal Advanced Functional Materials wherein they have suggested that a thin coating of graphene could help protect fires in lithium batteries.
Over the last few years there has been a surge in the use of lithium batteries, primarily due to their size and energy density in the electric vehicle segment. Lithium batteries hold the promise of allowing electric vehicles to travel several hundred miles on one charge. However, there is one problem that affects their increased use can cause occasional fire, an occurrence known to battery researchers as “thermal runaway.” These fires occur most frequently when the batteries overheat or cycle rapidly. With more and more electric vehicles on the road each year, battery technology needs to adapt to reduce the likelihood of these dangerous and catastrophic fires.
Applied Graphene Materials (LON:AGM) works in partnership with its customers, using its knowledge and expertise to provide bespoke graphene dispersions and formats to deliver enhancements and benefits for a wide range of applications. The Group’s strategy is to target commercial applications in three core markets: coatings, composites and functional materials.