Lithium-ion battery explosion aerosols: Morphology and elemental composition
Teresa L Barone1, Thomas H Dubaniewicz2, Sherri A Friend3
1Health Hazards Prevention Branch, Pittsburgh Mining Research Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Aerosol Science and Technology : the Journal of the American Association for Aerosol Research
|August 4, 2022
Summary
Lithium-ion battery explosions release aerosols containing battery materials. Understanding aerosol composition is crucial for assessing health risks and selecting safer battery components.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Environmental Science
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Lithium-ion batteries are prevalent in modern electronics.
- Thermal runaway in batteries can lead to explosions and aerosol release.
- Characterizing these aerosols is vital for safety assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize aerosols emitted from exploding lithium-ion batteries.
- To compare aerosol composition and morphology across different battery chemistries.
- To assess potential human exposure risks from battery explosion aerosols.
Main Methods:
- Initiated thermal runaway in commercial lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC), lithium iron phosphate (LFP), and lithium titanate oxide (LTO) batteries.
- Collected post-explosion aerosols on anodisc filters.
- Analyzed aerosols using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS).
Main Results:
- NMC battery aerosols showed morphologies and compositions similar to original battery materials, indicating fragmentation.
- LFP battery aerosols consisted of carbonaceous cenospheres, suggesting formation from molten organic decomposition.
- LTO battery aerosols exhibited characteristics of both fragmentation and decomposition.
- Respirable aerosols contained elements from battery anodes, cathodes, and separators.
Conclusions:
- Aerosol characteristics vary significantly with lithium-ion battery chemistry.
- Potential exposure to toxic battery materials during thermal runaway necessitates careful material selection.
- Further research into low-toxicity battery materials is warranted to mitigate health risks.
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