SMARTBATT · Smart electrolyte with inherent flame-retardancy for next generation fire-safe lithium-ion batteries.

Smart electrolyte with inherent flame-retardancy for next generation fire-safe lithium-ion batteries.

(1) Context As lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) underpin the transition to electrified transport and renewable energy storage, their safety remains a critical bottleneck. Despite technological advancements in energy density and lifecycle, the risk of thermal runaway, a self-accelerating exothermic reaction sequence leading to fire or explosion, still persists. Conventional safety measures such as shutdown separators (e.g., trilayer PP/PE/PP membranes) often fail in practice due to thermal shrinkage at high temperatures (~160 °C), which can cause internal short-circuits and system failure. Moreover, flame-retardant additives often compromise battery performance and increase manufacturing complexity. This challenge becomes especially urgent in the context of Europe’s Green Deal, the Europe 2020 Strategy, and the BATTERY 2030+ initiative, which emphasize smart, safe, and sustainable battery technologies. The Horizon Europe framework identifies advanced battery safety as a key strategic priority in supporting the growth of electric mobility, grid resilience, and consumer electronics. (2) Objectives The SMARTBATT project aims to deliver a next-generation fire-safe lithium-ion battery by developing a smart electrolyte that undergoes a liquid-solid transition (TLST), coupled with inherent flame retardancy. The dual chemical foundation of this innovation lies in: (i) Diels–Alder reaction chemistry – to trigger an in-situ, thermally activated liquid-to-solid transition and shutdown functionality The proposed electrolyte remains fully functional under normal conditions but, at elevated temperatures (~100–120 °C), initiates a chemical transformation that: - Reduces ionic conductivity - Occludes separator micropores - Initiates a two-step shutdown (warning phase and a complete shutdown) (ii) Michael addition chemistry – to incorporate flame-retardant functional groups. (3) Expected impacts (i) Scientific and technological impact - Breakthrough in intrinsic safety: The electrolyte autonomously triggers thermal shutdown without the need for external sensors or control systems. - Exhibited prerequisite properties: High ionic conductivity (1.18 mS cm⁻¹) and lithium transference number (0.58), required for smooth operation of LIBs, are maintained at room temperature. - Enhanced interfacial stability: Formation of poly(vinylene carbonate)-rich SEI stabilizes lithium cycling and reduces dendrite formation. (ii) Economic and industrial impact - Drop-in compatibility: The electrolyte is readily integrable into existing battery production lines, avoiding costly retooling. - Low-cost and sustainable precursors: DMFu can be synthesized from biomass, and VC is already commercially used. - Market-ready applications: EVs, grid storage, military, and consumer electronics will benefit from longer battery life, reduced recalls, and enhanced insurance and regulatory profiles. (iii) Environmental and societal impact - Reduced fire risk: Mitigates catastrophic battery failures and associated hazards. - Green chemistry: Biomass-derived components support sustainability goals. - Public trust: Promotes safer adoption of battery-powered technologies. (4) Integration of social sciences and humanities Although not explicitly framed in SSH terms, the project’s outcomes align with social priorities such as risk perception, public safety, climate responsibility, and sustainable innovation. Interdisciplinary engagement, particularly with regulatory studies and sustainability assessment, could further elucidate: - Public acceptance of safer LIBs. - Lifecycle and policy implications - Socioeconomic analysis of safety-related adoption barriers (5) Scale and significance SMARTBATT addresses a pivotal challenge in the global energy transition: how to make LIBs fundamentally safer without sacrificing performance or scalability. Its impacts are projected to span across: - European battery value chains (aligning with BATTERY 2030+ and Horizon Europe) - Multinational industries (automotive, aerospace, electronics) - Millions of end-users, whose safety and confidence in energy storage systems will be substantially improved. In summary, SMARTBATT sets the foundation for a transformative shift in battery safety, replacing passive safety measures with chemically intelligent mechanisms designed for the next era of sustainable and secure energy technologies.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз