Ensuring lithium-ion battery safety is a critical aspect of the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). One of the main concerns with lithium-ion batteries is the risk of thermal runaway causing damage to the product and life. The prevention of thermal runaway of batteries is very critical to build the confidence of customers.
During the initial stages of thermal runaway, electrolytes used in the cells evaporate. At advanced stages, the electrolytes decompose to form a number of gaseous compounds. Current sensing technologies target these gases, which are already late. The solution is to develop an electronic nose platform consisting an array of sensors to detect different gases released during the initial stages of thermal runaway. An algorithm can analyze the combination of signals to predict thermal runaways early on. In this project, we target the detection of electrolytes and solvents consisting of organic carbonates (OC) commonly used in Li ion batteries. Detection of OC is difficult using traditional metal oxide semiconductor gas sensors. It is proposed that a mixture of a catalyst along with a sensor will enhance the sensitivity. The catalyst will convert OC into products that can be detected by the sensor more sensitively. A successful sensor for OC is an important component in the commercial sensor arrays and can be installed inside a EV for early warning of thermal runaways.
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