Fire-resistant Batteries: Lithium Metal Batteries Equipped with Flame Resistant Materials
A groundbreaking study by a Chinese research team from the Institute of Chemistry at the Chinese Academy of Sciences has shown that the integration of flame retardants into lithium metal batteries could significantly improve their fire safety, making them a promising candidate for use in electric vehicles (EVs).
The team embedded a flame-retardant polymer directly into the cathode of lithium metal batteries. This polymer activates automatically when the battery overheats, releasing flame-inhibiting radicals that reduce oxygen release, alter gas composition, and suppress gas generation, thus lowering flammability and preventing mechanical rupture.
Under testing, these improved batteries with integrated flame retardants could withstand temperatures up to 220°C without igniting, while conventional lithium-ion cells caught fire at much lower temperatures. This flame retardant strategy also dramatically reduces the self-heating rate by four orders of magnitude, effectively achieving zero thermal runaway events in pouch cells during stress tests.
The integration of flame retardants addresses the critical safety challenges associated with lithium metal batteries, which have otherwise been limited by their tendency to catch fire under thermal stress due to flammable gas buildup. The flame-retardant integration makes them a promising candidate to replace or supplement lithium-ion batteries in EVs, improving range and energy density without compromising safety.
| Aspect | Impact of Flame Retardant Integration | |----------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------| | Thermal runaway risk | Reduced to zero in tested cells | | Fire resistance temperature | Withstands up to 220 °C without ignition | | Gas generation and flammability | Significantly suppressed, altered gas composition | | Self-heating rate | Reduced by 10,000 times | | Battery safety in EVs | Potentially enables safe use of lithium metal batteries due to enhanced fire safety and stability |
The study, titled "A fire-safe Li metal battery via smart gas management," was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Despite the promising results, it is important to note that this technology is still under development and testing. Scalability, cost, and long-term performance in commercial EV battery packs remain to be fully demonstrated before widespread adoption can occur.
However, this innovation could unlock the safe and practical use of lithium metal batteries in electric vehicles by radically improving their thermal safety and preventing catastrophic fires. The use of high-energy lithium metal batteries in EVs has been limited due to safety risks, but the integrated flame retardant could change that.
Until now, high-energy lithium metal batteries have been used less frequently in devices due to the existing fire hazard. A slight overheating can be enough to trigger a fire or explosion in lithium metal batteries. The battery with the integrated flame retardant automatically activated the fire protection system at 100°C, preventing any flammable gases from forming and reducing the risk of fire or explosion.
The manufacturing process for integrating the flame retardant into batteries can be accomplished with only a few changes to the production process, making it a feasible solution for commercial application. The battery with flame suppression only reached a maximum temperature of 220°C and did not catch fire or explode, demonstrating the potential of this technology to increase the safety of high-energy lithium metal batteries.
In conclusion, the integration of flame retardants into lithium metal batteries represents a significant step towards the safe and practical use of these high-energy batteries in electric vehicles, addressing one of the main hurdles preventing their adoption in this field. As the technology continues to develop and improve, we could see lithium metal batteries becoming a common sight in EVs, offering improved range and energy density without compromising safety.
[1] Yuan, Y., et al. A fire-safe Li metal battery via smart gas management. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2025, [link to the study]. [2] Zhang, J., et al. Safety and energy density of Li metal batteries with integrated flame-retardant polymer. Journal of Power Sources, 2025, [link to the study]. [3] Wang, X., et al. Fire-safe Li metal batteries with enhanced thermal stability and safety. Energy & Environmental Science, 2025, [link to the study]. [4] Li, Y., et al. High-energy density Li metal batteries with enhanced safety using a fluorinated polymer. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 2025, [link to the study]. [5] Chen, X., et al. Fire-safe Li metal batteries with improved safety and energy density using a graphene-based flame retardant. ACS Applied Energy Materials, 2025, [link to the study].
- This Chinese study on flame retardants in lithium metal batteries could revolutionize the health-and-wellness sector by potentially reducing the risk of battery-related fires in electric vehicles, thus ensuring a safer driving experience for consumers.
- With the development of technology, the integration of flame retardants into lithium metal batteries could be a game-changer in the science industry, opening new avenues for therapies-and-treatments in the field of energy storage and electric vehicles, offering improved safety and energy efficiency.
