The applications of aerogel in battery field will be more diversified

The most common battery type is lithium-ion, but due to its structural properties and the materials it uses, these batteries pose unavoidable risks.
Due to the high voltage total and the large working current needed in the power sector, thousands of single lithium-ion battery packs are often used in groups. Battery safety is becoming a bigger issue at the moment. The safety problem hasn’t been fully resolved as far as battery material technology goes. Heat insulation, flame retardant, and fire protection are all effective methods to reduce harm caused by lithium-ion battery thermal runaway.

Aerogels currently have the lowest known thermal conductivity among solid materials. The thermal insulation properties of aerogel insulation materials, heat-insulation panels, and heat-insulation papers are up to five times greater than those of conventional products. These products also offer excellent fire retardancy and flame resistance. With the growth of the aerogel sector, applications of aerogel to batteries are becoming more widespread. They offer soft impact resistance and sound insulation as well as noise reduction.

Aerogel has a very low thermal conductivity
Researchers have tested the thermal insulation effect of heat insulation boards between single cells. Thermal runaway propagation was used to test the aerogel separator. A 6Ah battery module with a 20mm space between monomers and four 200mm thick insulation materials were wrapped around the module. The thermal runaway effect on the thermal protection in the single cell compartment.

The experimental results showed that when monomer A becomes thermally out-of-control, monomer in the blank groups without thermal protection quickly heats and becomes thermally out-of control. In contrast, experimental monomer with an aerogel between the monomers reached only 110°C. This temperature successfully blocked the spread of thermal runaway in the 6Ah battery cell at 20mm.

Due to its excellent properties of heat insulation and flame retardance, aerogel is able to further reduce the safe distance between monomers. Aerogel companies have created a range of ultra-thin aerogel sheets, insulation paper, and other products that are designed to maximize the total power in the battery pack and reduce the space required.

Aerogel will be used more widely in battery applications as my country develops its aerogel industry. This will include the latest military thermal batteries, but also more civilian battery areas, including new energy power, thermal insulation, and flame retardant protection of lithium-ion and accumulator batteries in electronic equipment.

(aka. Technology Co. Ltd., a global chemical supplier and manufacturer with more than 12 years of experience in providing high-quality Nanomaterials and chemicals. The Nanoparticle Silica Airgel produced by us has an extremely high porosity. Contact us if you have any questions.