Scientists have developed a new sensor capable of detecting hazardous gas leaks in lithium-ion batteries before they lead to fires or explosions.
Lithium-ion batteries power everything from phones to electric cars, but safety is a major concern. They are efficient and durable, but failures can be dangerous.
The rise of electric vehicles has made this issue even more urgent—over 20 EV fires or explosions in were linked to lithium-ion battery failures.
A study published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces introduces a new sensor that could help prevent dangerous lithium-ion battery failures. As lithium-ion batteries become more common in smartphones, laptops, electric vehicles, and even military applications, safety risks continue to grow. While these batteries offer high energy density and long lifespans, they also pose significant hazards.
New sensor improves lithium-ion battery safety
Overheating or damage to battery cells can release volatile vapors that may ignite, causing fires or explosions, making it crucial to develop gas sensors that are highly sensitive, selective, low-cost, easy to integrate, and energy-efficient.
Zhao explains that their research is driven by the urgent need for safer batteries. By enabling early detection of electrolyte leaks, their work aims to improve battery management systems, prevent failures, and enhance the reliability of lithium-ion technology.
Trace amounts of ethylene carbonate (EC) vapor, a key component of the battery’s electrolyte, are detected by the new sensor, which can identify potential failures before they escalate into major issues.
Researchers developed this highly sensitive and cost-effective gas sensor using covalent organic frameworks (COFs), molecular structures engineered to selectively detect specific gases. This is the first time a COF-based sensor has been computationally designed for EC detection.
“We screened hundreds of potential materials using computational methods before identifying COF-QA-4 as the best candidate. It’s highly sensitive and selective, targeting the harmful EC gas while ignoring other vapours. The sensor can detect leaks long before they become hazardous,” Zhao added.
Identifying lithium-ion battery leaks
After screening hundreds of materials using computational methods, the researchers identified COF-QA-4 as the best candidate. This material is highly sensitive and selective, targeting harmful EC gas while ignoring other vapors.
The sensor can detect leaks long before they pose a danger. In laboratory tests, the sensor demonstrated exceptional performance, capable of detecting EC vapor at concentrations as low as 1.15 parts per million (ppm).
