Australian battery company Li-S Energy claims to have taken a significant step towards proving the safety of its semi-solid state lithium-sulfur batteries, with the third-generation technology successfully passing a series of nail penetration tests.
Brisbane-based Li-S Energy has announced that this is the case GEN3 semi-solid lithium sulfur (Li-S) battery cells have successfully passed a battery of nail penetration tests, with results exceeding the performance standards of the company’s aerospace partners.
Li-S said it had conducted a program of nail penetration testing on multi-layer semi-solid state 2.5 Ah lithium-sulfur cells built at its manufacturing facility in Geelong, Victoria.
The company said 28 cells were tested and the results exceeded both U.S. civilian and military performance standards.
Nail penetration testing involves using a steel nail to penetrate the battery cell under precise conditions in an explosion-proof test chamber.
Li-S Chief Executive Officer Lee Finniear said the purpose of the test is to determine what happens to a battery cell if it becomes damaged.
“Amid growing public concerns about lithium-ion battery safety and battery fires, delivering a safe battery is critical,” he said. “In our target markets of drones, electric aircraft and defense, a battery fire could be catastrophic, and these results show our partners that Li-S Energy battery cells are safe when penetrated and continue to function even after being damaged.”
Li-S said nail penetration is part of a series of safety tests planned to be conducted as Phase 3 production facility comes online, and these first results from the smaller 2.5 Ah Phase 2 cells illustrate one of the key safety benefits of the technology.
Lithium-sulfur batteries provide an alternative to lithium-ion batteries for energy use, including electric vehicles and stationary energy storage. However, Li-S has indicated that its initial focus will be on its use in drones.
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