Issue

Vol. 17 (2025)

Enhancing Thermal Protection in Lithium Batteries with Power Bank-Inspired Multi-Network Aerogel and Thermally Induced Flexible Composite Phase Change Material

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-024-01593-0
Zaichao Li
State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, People’s Republic of China
Feng Cao
State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, People’s Republic of China
Yuang Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, People’s Republic of China
Shufen Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, People’s Republic of China
Bingtao Tang
State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, People’s Republic of China

Corresponding Author: Bingtao Tang

tangbt@dlut.edu.cn

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 17 (2025), Article Number: 166

Abstract

Thermal runaway (TR) is considered a significant safety hazard for lithium batteries, and thermal protection materials are crucial in mitigating this risk. However, current thermal protection materials generally suffer from poor mechanical properties, flammability, leakage, and rigid crystallization, and they struggle to continuously block excess heat transfer and propagation once thermal saturation occurs. This study proposes a novel type of thermal protection material: an aerogel coupled composite phase change material (CPCM). The composite material consists of gelatin/sodium alginate (Ge/SA) composite biomass aerogel as an insulating component and a thermally induced flexible CPCM made from thermoplastic polyester elastomer as a heat-absorbing component. Inspired by power bank, we coupled the aerogel with CPCM through the binder, so that CPCM can continue to ‘charge and store energy’ for the aerogel, effectively absorbing heat, delaying the heat saturation phenomenon, and maximizing the duration of thermal insulation. The results demonstrate that the Ge/SA aerogel exhibits excellent thermal insulation (with a temperature difference of approximately 120 °C across a 1 cm thickness) and flame retardancy (achieving a V-0 flame retardant rating). The CPCM exhibits high heat storage density (811.9 J g−1), good thermally induced flexibility (bendable above 40 °C), and thermal stability. Furthermore, the Ge/SA-CPCM coupled composite material shows even more outstanding thermal insulation performance, with the top surface temperature remaining at 89 °C after 100 min of exposure to a high temperature of 230 °C. This study provides a new direction for the development of TR protection materials for lithium batteries.


Highlights:
1 The prepared Ge/SA biomass aerogel with multiple crosslinked networks have excellent flame retardancy and thermal insulation properties.
2 The prepared SAT/TPEE/EG composite phase change material (CPCM) has a thermal storage density as high as 811.9 J g–1 and good flame retardancy.
3 In the composite material of CPCM coupled with aerogel, the CPCM continuously absorbs heat for the aerogel, thus maximizing heat transfer and spreading.

Keywords

Lithium-ion battery thermal runaway Thermal protection material Multinetwork aerogel Flexible composite phase change material
Li, Zaichao, Feng Cao, Yuang Zhang, Shufen Zhang, and Bingtao Tang. 2025. “Enhancing Thermal Protection in Lithium Batteries With Power Bank-Inspired Multi-Network Aerogel and Thermally Induced Flexible Composite Phase Change Material”. Nano-Micro Letters 17 (February):166. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-024-01593-0.
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