Across the world, lithium-ion batteries have been the cause of disastrous fires in electric vehicles, electric scooters, laptops and more. From the recent fire in California at the Moss Landing Power Plant to last year’s fires from electronic bikes in New York and the catastrophic flames at a battery manufacturer in South Korea, these incidents are raising awareness about the safety issues of lithium-ion batteries, which are slowing the transition to a better energy future.
Although pinpointing the exact cause of a lithium-ion battery-related fire can be difficult and time consuming, there are two primary causes for battery-related fires – external damage to the battery or an internal short.
External damage, such as water exposure or a collision, can rupture the outer-layer of the battery, exposing reactive components which can trigger an explosion. An internal short-related fire, on the other hand, is caused by damage inside the lithium-ion battery cell, which is frequently caused by dendrite growth. Dendrite formations are one of the most significant challenges facing battery manufacturers since they can lead to battery degradation, reduced lifespan, and even dangerous failures, like fires.
What Are Dendrites and How Do They Form?
Dendrites are needle or tree-like formations that develop on the surface of the lithium anode in a battery. As batteries charge and discharge, lithium-ions move between the anode and cathode. However, under certain conditions, such as overcharging or charging at extremely low temperatures, lithium-ions can accumulate on the anode without being absorbed into the material. This excess lithium can crystallize into dendrites, which grow progressively longer and sharper with each charge cycle.
Dendrite Formation Leads to Fire Hazards
The growth of dendrites stresses the battery’s structure, leading to cracks and defects that affect its performance. These cracks create pathways for dendrites to extend toward the cathode. Eventually, the dendrites may bridge the gap between the anode and cathode, causing a short circuit. This results in a sudden surge of electrical current, which generates heat. If the heat is not dissipated, it can lead to thermal runaway – a cycle in which increasing temperatures accelerate chemical reactions within the battery, further raising the heat. If the battery's separator, a semi-permeable barrier meant to prevent the anode and cathode from making direct contact, fails, the heat can ignite the battery’s flammable electrolyte solution, triggering a fire.
How Can Dendrites Be Prevented?
To create a safer battery, 24M Technologies developed an innovative battery separator technology – Impervio – that impedes the growth of dendrites at the source.
By continuously monitoring the cell, Impervio technology can detect thermal runaway or potential short before it occurs and enable a safe discharge and shutdown of the individual battery cell with early fault detention. The Impervio separator works with all battery formats and easily integrates into existing manufacturing processes.
Technology that Empowers a Sustainable Future
By addressing dendrite formation at its core, 24M’s Impervio technology offers a promising solution to improving battery safety and reliability, particularly in high-stakes applications like electric vehicles and energy storage systems. As we continue to push for cleaner, more sustainable energy solutions, innovations like Impervio are crucial to ensuring that the transition to electric mobility and renewable energy is both safe and reliable.
Watch our explainer video or download the Impervio fact sheet:
