Mitigating internal short circuit in prismatic lithium-ion battery pouch cell by using microstructured current collector

Safety of lithium-ion battery (LIB) has become a major concern for many large-scale energy storage systems. Particularly, collision-induced internal short circuit (ISC) can trigger thermal runaway of LIB cells in electric vehicles. Our previous study on LIB coin cells suggested that with an appropriate microstructure, the current collector might favorably modify the failure mode of electrodes and drastically reduce the heat generation rate of ISC. In the current study, we scaled up the technique of microstructured current collector and applied it to LIB pouch cells. Through debossing, surface patterns were rapidly generated on large current collector sheets in a controlled manner. Impact tests demonstrated the high effectiveness of the processed current collectors for thermal runaway mitigation.

Automated summary

The safety of lithium-ion batteries (LIB) is crucial for large-scale energy storage systems, especially in electric vehicles where collision-induced internal short circuit can lead to thermal runaway. By scaling up the microstructured current collector technique from coin cells to pouch cells, surface patterns were rapidly generated on large current collector sheets through debossing. Impact tests confirmed the high effectiveness of the processed current collectors in mitigating thermal runaway.