LONDON: Scientists have been able to track the entire process of what happens inside lithium-ion batteries that leads to their overheating and exploding. "Understanding how Li-ion batteries fail and potentially cause a dangerous chain reaction of events is important for improving their design to making them safer to use and transport," said the scientists. "We combined high energy synchrotron X-rays and thermal imaging to map changes to the internal structure and external temperature of two types of Li-ion batteries as we exposed them to extreme levels of heat," said first author Donal Finegan from University College London (UCL). The team looked at the effects of gas pockets forming, venting and increasing temperatures on the layers inside two distinct commercial Li-ion batteries as they exposed the battery shells to temperatures in excess of 250 degrees Celsius. The battery with an internal support remained largely intact up until the initiation of thermal runa...
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