Scientists from the Chinese University of Hong Kong have developed a new electric vehicle battery that is less prone to catching fire or exploding at high temperatures.

The high-energy-density battery, that makes use of nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) lithium-ion materials, can remain safe amid severe mechanical abuse, offering a solution for energy storage and electric mobility, attendees at a news conference were told on Wednesday.

The innovative battery is developed by a research team led by Professor Lu Yi-chun of CUHK’s Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering. Research findings have been published in the leading journal Nature Energy.

Even under severe mechanical pressure during a nail-penetration test, the battery remains safe, Lu said.

For instance, when conducting nail-penetration tests, mainland facilities have access to larger-scale equipment that can support more stringent testing conditions.

 _{Lu Yi-chun, professor at CUHK’s department of mechanical and automation engineering}

She added that her team collaborated with Chinese mainland academic institutions during the battery’s development. “For instance, when conducting nail-penetration tests, mainland facilities have access to larger-scale equipment that can support more stringent testing conditions.”

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The research team has developed a solvent-relay strategy that automatically suppresses harmful reactions as the battery temperature rises, effectively interrupting the cascade that leads to thermal runaway. This refers to a dangerous, self-accelerating process where rising temperatures trigger reactions that release more heat, leading to an uncontrollable temperature increase, often resulting in fire or explosion.  

In nail-penetration tests, when batteries with conventional designs were ignited within a few seconds, the new NMC battery remained stable, Lu said.

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The battery can achieve about 1,000 stable cycles, offering a combination of high energy density and outstanding safety, she added.

“This breakthrough not only has a profound impact on the electric vehicle industry but also drives safety upgrades for large-scale energy storage systems, reducing public safety risks caused by battery failures,” Lu said.

It is hoped that the battery can also be used in all products currently powered by lithium-ion batteries. “This includes power banks, laptops and smartphones. It allows the batteries in these devices to retain high-energy-density and performance while becoming safer. For example, you can charge your phone on your bedside table without fearing that it will easily catch fire,” she said.

Fu Yinglin contributed to this story.