Under what circumstances can lithium batteries explode?
1 Answers
Lithium batteries may explode due to the following reasons: 1. Insufficient anode capacity in lithium batteries. When the anode capacity is inadequate relative to the cathode during charging, lithium atoms generated cannot intercalate into the graphite layers of the anode and instead deposit on its surface, forming crystals. Long-term crystal formation can cause short circuits, leading to rapid discharge that generates intense heat, damaging the separator. High temperatures decompose the electrolyte into gases, and excessive pressure may cause the battery to explode. 2. Excessive moisture content. During charging, moisture reacts with lithium to form lithium oxide, reducing battery capacity and making overcharging more likely, which generates gases. Since moisture has a low decomposition voltage, it easily breaks down into gases during charging. The accumulation of these gases increases internal pressure, potentially causing the battery to explode if the casing cannot withstand it. 3. Internal short circuits. A short circuit within the battery leads to high-current discharge, producing significant heat that burns the separator, exacerbating the short circuit. This causes the electrolyte to decompose into gases, and if internal pressure becomes too high, the battery may explode.
