Research on Thermal Runaway of Mechanically Damaged Li-Ion Batteries and Its Stopping by Excess Water

Abstract

The construction, operating principles, and Li-ion battery thermal runaway mechanisms were analyzed. The external mechanical damage to a Li-ion battery with the uncontrolled thermal runaway development was investigated. The battery self-heating temperature regime was determined. A possible reactions set leading to intense materials self-heating and decomposition was considered. The battery self-heating stopping by immersing it in a container with a water excess relative to the stoichiometric amount for the lithium metal maximum mass that can accumulate was investigated. The change in resulting aqueous solution pH was measured, and the hydrogen release was also recorded. Reaction completion time dependencies was established. The water required amount to absorb the heat that could be released during the reaction was calculated, which correlated with the experimental data. Possible measures to Li-ion batteries prevent and stop the burning were considered.