Lithium Battery Electrolyte Shutdown Additives for Thermal Runaway

The patent converts the harmful effect of high temperature into a beneficial safety feature by using temperature-responsive additives that undergo phase changes or chemical reactions at elevated temperatures. Specifically, the electrolyte contains additives that decompose or polymerize at high temperatures to form solid products that block ion transport, thereby shutting down the battery before thermal runaway occurs. This transforms the dangerous high-temperature condition into a trigger for passive safety activation.

The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the electrolyte at different temperatures by incorporating temperature-sensitive additives. These additives remain inactive at normal operating temperatures but undergo significant changes (decomposition, polymerization, phase transition) at elevated temperatures, altering the electrolyte's viscosity, ionic conductivity, and overall stability to prevent ignition and explosion.

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by incorporating additives in the electrolyte that proactively counteract the effects of high temperature before they can cause harm. These additives are designed to activate at specific temperature thresholds, preemptively increasing viscosity and blocking ion transport pathways to prevent resistance increase, thermal runaway, and safety failures before they occur.

The temperature-responsive additives act as intermediaries between the electrolyte and the electrodes. At high temperatures, these intermediaries undergo chemical or physical changes that mediate the shutdown of ion transport, preventing direct harmful interactions between the electrolyte and electrode materials that would otherwise lead to increased resistance and safety failures.