Beijing – A team of Chinese scientists developed a new electrolyte. It is non-flammable and polymerizable. It features self-protection capabilities. This development radically addresses a fundamental safety dilemma in modern power batteries. It also paves the way for accelerating the market introduction of sodium-ion batteries.
The Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, published this achievement. It appeared in the journal Nature Energy. This electrolyte automatically transforms from liquid to solid. This occurs when battery temperatures abnormally rise above 150 degrees Celsius. It forms a dense barrier. This barrier acts as a “smart firewall.” It prevents the spread of thermal runaway.
Sodium-ion batteries equipped with this electrolyte passed rigorous tests. These included the nail penetration test. They also passed the hot box test at 300 degrees Celsius. The batteries showed exceptional safety and reliability. Importantly, this achievement did not compromise electrochemical performance. The battery exhibits high adaptability to temperatures. It operates from -40 degrees Celsius to 60 degrees Celsius. It also offers voltage resistance exceeding 4.3 volts. This combines safety with high energy density.
The institute also clarified that all raw materials are conventional industrial products. This applies to this electrolyte system. This makes the cost reasonable. It also enables large-scale production. This gives the technology significant value for industrial applications. This innovation is expected to provide a completely new solution. It targets high-energy-density and safe batteries.