Minerals found in kidney stones are making chipboard less flammable.
The last thing anyone needs is for their EV battery to go on fire. Enter a Chinese research team and its electrolyte for sodium-ion batteries, which doubles as a fire retardant.
The liquid compound is stable up to temperatures of 150°C and solidifies at higher temperatures. Meaning that no chemical chain reactions occur as the solid protective layer stops heat spreading.
Tests showed that even at temperatures of 300°C, there was no danger of fire. Compared to Li-On-batteries, energy density is lower. This could be offset by forgoing unnecessary battery enclosures, lowering overall weight.
China is also working on sustainable electrolytes, while Swiss drones can help fire services.
