Tue Oct 01 02:12:05 UTC 2024: ## LG Chem Develops Breakthrough Technology to Prevent Electric Vehicle Battery Fires

**SEOUL, South Korea** – LG Chem has announced a groundbreaking development in battery safety with its new temperature-responsive Safety Reinforced Layer (SRL). This innovative material acts as a “fuse” to prevent thermal runaway, a leading cause of electric vehicle (EV) battery fires.

The SRL, a thin layer just one-hundredth the thickness of a human hair, is placed between the battery’s cathode layer and the current collector. When the battery heats up beyond its normal range (90-130°C), the SRL reacts by dramatically increasing its electrical resistance, effectively blocking the flow of electricity and preventing further overheating.

This technology was developed in collaboration with Professor Lee Minah’s team at POSTECH’s Department of Battery Engineering and underwent safety verification testing with LG Energy Solution. The research results were published in Nature Communications.

**Proven Effectiveness:**

The SRL’s effectiveness was demonstrated through rigorous impact and penetration tests. Batteries equipped with the SRL either did not catch fire at all or extinguished flames shortly after ignition, effectively preventing full-blown thermal runaway events.

In a penetration test with mobile Lithium Cobalt Oxide (LCO) batteries, 16% of standard batteries did not catch fire, while all batteries with the SRL remained fire-free. Similarly, in an impact test on Nickel Cobalt Manganese (NCM) batteries for EVs, 70% of batteries with the SRL did not ignite, while the remaining 30% saw flames that were extinguished within seconds. All standard batteries in the impact test caught fire.

**Addressing Existing Limitations:**

Previous attempts at using temperature-responsive materials faced issues with slow reaction times or reduced energy density. LG Chem’s SRL addresses these limitations with its rapid response time and minimal impact on battery performance.

**Mass Production and Future Plans:**

LG Chem has already completed safety verification tests for the SRL in mobile batteries and plans to continue testing for large-capacity EV batteries throughout next year. The company aims to swiftly apply this technology to mass production, ensuring greater customer confidence and strengthening its position in the rapidly growing battery market.

“This is a tangible research achievement that can be applied to mass production in a short period of time,” stated Lee Jong-Ku, CTO of LG Chem. “We will enhance safety technology to ensure customers can use electric vehicles with confidence and contribute to strengthening our competitiveness in the battery market.”

This breakthrough innovation marks a significant step forward in EV battery safety, offering a promising solution to a critical challenge for the burgeoning electric vehicle industry.

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