Efficient thermal management of Li-ion batteries with a passive interfacial thermal regulator based on a shape memory alloy

Abstract

The poor performance of lithium ion batteries in extreme temperatures is hindering their wider adoption in the energy sector. A fundamental challenge in battery thermal management systems (BTMS) is that hot and cold environments pose opposite requirements: thermal transmission at high temperature for battery cooling, and thermal isolation at low temperature to retain the batteries' internally generated heat, leading to inevitable compromise of either hot or cold performances. Here, we demonstrate a thermal regulator that adjusts its thermal conductance as a function of the temperature, just as desired for the BTMS. Without any external logic control, this new thermal regulator increases battery capacity by a factor of three at T ambient of-20°C in comparison to a baseline BTMS that is always thermally conducting, while also limiting the battery temperature rise to 5°C in very hot environment (T ambient = 45°C) to ensure safety. The result expands the usability of lithium ion batteries in extreme environments and opens up new applications of thermally functional devices.

Solid-State Electrolytes for Lithium-Ion Batteries: Fundamentals, Challenges and Perspectives

“…The large-scale application of electric vehicles (EVs) is considered to be a viable method to reduce CO 2 emissions and alleviate greenhouse effects, and in the past few years, the use of EVs has become more accepted by the general public. However, with the rapid adoption of EVs, safety issues as well as other associated issues in the use of lithiumion batteries (LIBs) as a power source are becoming more pronounced and will require further research and development [1][2][3]. In general, a commercial LIB is composed of an anode, a non-aqueous electrolyte, a separator and a cathode and the use of non-aqueous electrolytes possesses serious safety issues due to the flammability and easy ignition of the organic solvents used in these electrolytes (i.e., propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate) [4][5][6].…”

Thermal Transport in Conductive Polymer–Based Materials

“…High-energy-capacity, safe, and low-cost Li-ion batteries put forward new battery electrode materials and new composites. [182][183][184] To maintain the high charging and discharging efficiency, it is crucial to maintain the work temperature for the Li-ion batteries to be between 18 and 45 °C. [185,186] When temperature rises above 60 °C, the battery would short out, and even explode.…”

Highly Thermoconductive, Thermostable, and Super‐Flexible Film by Engineering 1D Rigid Rod‐Like Aramid Nanofiber/2D Boron Nitride Nanosheets

“…Thermal management is important in the rapid development of batteries, electronic chips, and automobile cooling systems, and minor upgrades in efficiency often bring about great challenges in heat dissipation. Polymer‐based thermal management materials recently have attracted tremendous attention due to their prominent advantages relative to metal or ceramic materials, and the low cost, ease of processing, excellent flexibility, and lightweight cater to emerging technologies such as flexible electronics.…”

“…Hence, unprecedented in-plane thermal conductivities as high as 46.7 W m −1 K −1 can be achieved at only 30 wt% BNNS loading, a value of 137% greater than that of a worm-like ANF/BNNS counterpart. Moreover, the thermally stable nanocomposite films with light weight (28.9 W m −1 K −1 /10 3 (kg m −3 )) and high strength (>100 MPa, 450 °C) enable effective thermal management for microelectrodes operating at temperatures beyond 200 °C.Thermal management is important in the rapid development of batteries, [1][2][3] electronic chips, [4] and automobile cooling systems, [5] and minor upgrades in efficiency often bring about great challenges in heat dissipation. Polymerbased thermal management materials recently have attracted tremendous attention due to their prominent advantages relative to metal or ceramic materials, and the low cost, ease of processing, excellent flexibility, and lightweight cater to emerging technologies such as flexible electronics.…”