Thermal Runaway and Fire Characteristics of Lithium-Ion Batteries Triggered by Nail Penetration

Thermal runaway (TR) and fire behavior of Lithium-ion battery (LIB) cells and small modules under mechanical abuse condition was investigated using Accelerated Rate Calorimeter (ARC). The integration of phase change materials (PCMs), thermally conductive barriers (e.g. boron nitride and graphene nanoplatelets), and biochar-enhanced PCMs derived from food waste and wastewater digestate at cell level under normal cycling condition and abuse condition (nail penetration) was assessed as a passive thermal management and mitigation strategy. Key parameters including cell surface temperature, temperature rate and peak temperature, pressure and pressure rate inside the chamber, as well as exhaust gas concentrations (CO and CO2) were measured. Inter-cell TR propagation in small modules subjected to nail penetration was studied.