Polymer based electrolyte made Li-ion batteries nonflammable

That’s partly because the electrolyte inside them, which is a substance that carries lithium ions between the two electrodes as the battery charges and discharges, is flammable. “One of the biggest challenges in the battery industry is this safety issue, so there’s a lot of effort going into trying to make a battery electrolyte that is safe,” said Rachel Z Huang, a graduate student at Stanford University and first author of the new study.An extra salty electrolyteThe new polymer-based battery material being heatedConventional lithium-ion battery electrolytes are made of lithium salt dissolved in a liquid organic solvent, such as ether or carbonate. While this solvent improves battery performance by helping to move lithium ions around, it’s also a potential firestarter.At temperatures above 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius), the solvent used in conventional electrolytes…

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