Domestic researchers have developed a new technology that can fundamentally prevent electric vehicle battery fires. This method applies components used in fire extinguishers to the battery to suppress the phenomenon of "thermal runaway" caused by overheating.
The National Research Foundation of Korea reported on the 21st that Professor Song Seung-wan of Chungnam National University, along with research team leader Do Chil-hoon of the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute and Lee Young-joo, group leader of the Energy Materials Research Group at the Korea Basic Science Institute, have collaboratively developed a nonflammable electrolyte. The research results were published in the international journal "Materials Science & Engineering R – Reports" in March.
Lithium-ion batteries can cause a type of explosion known as "thermal runaway" if the internal temperature of the battery rises rapidly due to shock or overheating. It is known that a significant number of previous electric vehicle fire incidents stemmed from this thermal runaway phenomenon. In particular, the carbonate-based organic solvents used as electrolytes in lithium-ion batteries are identified as one of the causes of thermal runaway due to their flammable characteristics.
To solve this problem, the research team drew ideas from components used to extinguish fires, such as fluorine and phosphorus. They created a special liquid utilizing these components and applied it to the electrolyte entering the battery. As a result, they successfully developed an electrolyte with the ability to extinguish flames on its own when heated.
When the temperature rises sharply inside the battery, the electrolyte decomposes due to heat, producing highly reactive "hydrogen radicals." The developed electrolyte captures the hydrogen radicals to suppress flames. It's as if a fire extinguisher is installed inside the battery.
Experimental results show that this electrolyte did not ignite at all, with an ignition time measured at "0 seconds" compared to existing ones, and effectively suppressed the thermal runaway phenomenon. Furthermore, batteries applying the developed electrolyte maintained stable performance even after more than 600 charge and discharge cycles.
Professor Song Seung-wan noted, "By replacing existing electrolytes with the electrolytes developed this time, we can greatly reduce the risk of thermal runaway," and added, "I expect it can be applied to all fields where lithium-ion batteries are needed."
References
Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mser.2025.100980