Researchers have designed a lithium-ion battery that contains a fire-extinguishing material, which is released if the battery gets too hot.
Flame retardant triphenyl phosphate (TPP) sits inside a shell within the electrolyte fluid. The shell melts when the temperature reaches 150C (302F), releasing the chemical compound.
In tests, battery fires were extinguished in 0.4 seconds.
Lithium-ion batteries power many devices but are a known fire hazard.
The Stanford University research team’s peer-reviewed paper has been published by the journal Science Advances.
Previous attempts to incorporate TPP inside batteries without the shell have hampered their performance.
If a lithium-ion battery cell charges too quickly or a tiny manufacturing error slips through the net it can result in a short circuit – which can lead to fire.
In February 2016, the US National Transportation Safety Board issued a warning about lithium batteries in aeroplane cargo, describing them as « a fire and explosion ignition source ».
While Samsung has not yet released the results of its investigation into what caused some of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones to catch fire last year, local reports have suggested it has found that the batteries were responsible .
However, the firm would not confirm that this was their conclusion.
« We understand the need for answers and appreciate your continued patience as well as that of our valued customers, partners and stakeholders, » it said in a statement.
« We are working diligently to ensure that we have a comprehensive update and will provide more information in the coming weeks once we have the final report. »
Battery technology has been slower to evolve than the many battery-powered devices that rely on it, said Ian Fogg, senior analyst at IHS,
« There is enormous pressure to improve battery tech. It’s one of the areas that’s holding back mobile devices and a range of other products, » he told the BBC.
« Manufacturers have been balancing out consumer demand for longer-lived batteries, and more powerful devices with better graphics and larger more detailed displays, with the sophistication of battery tech.
« It’s very difficult to push up the capacity of batteries and there is always a risk that a battery in any device could fail. «
