Runaway risk of forming toxic compounds

Amer Hammami, Nathalie Raymond and Michel Armand ()
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Amer Hammami: Laboratoire International sur Les Matériaux Electro-actifs CNRS-UdM, UMR 2289, Université de Montréal
Nathalie Raymond: Laboratoire International sur Les Matériaux Electro-actifs CNRS-UdM, UMR 2289, Université de Montréal
Michel Armand: Laboratoire International sur Les Matériaux Electro-actifs CNRS-UdM, UMR 2289, Université de Montréal

Nature, 2003, vol. 424, issue 6949, 635-636

Abstract: Abstract Lithium-ion batteries are stabilized by an ultrathin protective film that is 10–50 nanometres thick and coats both electrodes. Here we artifically simulate the 'thermal-runaway' conditions that would arise should this coating be destroyed, which could happen in a battery large enough to overheat beyond 80 °C. We find that under these conditions the reaction of the battery electrolyte with the material of the unprotected positive electrode results in the formation of toxic fluoro-organic compounds. Although not a concern for the small units used in today's portable devices, this unexpected chemical hazard should be taken into account as larger and larger lithium-ion batteries are developed, for example for incorporation into electric-powered vehicles.

Date: 2003
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DOI: 10.1038/424635b

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