Manufacturing Nano-Powder-Based Ceramic for Fireproof Lithium-ion Batteries
Two billion lithium-ion battery cells are produced every year. Due to their long life and high energy density, they are the preferred battery in mobile devices and laptops, and are gaining popularity in electric vehicles and the aerospace industry. However, these batteries can get hot and the most prevalent lithium-ion batteries contain a flammable liquid solution. When they fail, they can cause fires. To combat this danger, University of Michigan engineers have developed a new way to produce a nano-powder-based ceramic membrane that can replace flammable liquids in lithium-ion batteries. Because these super thin ceramics control the properties of ion transport, they have the potential to be valuable in other arenas including the growing industry of wearable medical sensors.