Lithium Ion Batteries and Safety

 

The following is a repeat quote from "Wikipedia" which is a small section of what I quoted before in:Lithium Ion Battery and Dreamliners  .

However, I realized this is easier to grasp than the whole article I quoted before. It looks like replacing the lithium cobalt oxide cathode materials in Lithium ion batteries with a lithium metal phosphate or something like that improves safety but lowers capacity. But in an aircraft something like this (or an even safer type of Lithium Battery) might be necessary. What might be aggravating these batteries in Dreamliners might be all the bouncing around and altitude changes. However, I have seen no tests  so this is just a thought.  

Begin quote from Wikipedia under the heading: Lithium-ion Batteries:

Safety

Lithium-ion batteries can rupture, ignite, or explode when exposed to high temperature. Short-circuiting a battery will cause the cell to overheat and possibly to catch fire. Adjacent cells may then overheat and fail, possibly causing the entire battery to ignite or rupture. In the event of a fire, the device may emit dense irritating smoke.^[107]
Replacing the lithium cobalt oxide cathode material in lithium-ion batteries with a lithium metal phosphate such as lithium iron phosphate, improves cycle counts, shelf life and safety, but lowers capacity. Currently, these 'safer' lithium-ion batteries are mainly used in electric cars and other large-capacity battery applications, where safety issues are critical.^[108]
Lithium-ion batteries normally contain safety devices to protect the cells from disturbance. However, contaminants inside the cells can defeat these safety devices.^{[clarification needed]}

Recalls

In March 2007, Lenovo recalled approximately 205,000 batteries at risk of explosion. In August 2007, Nokia recalled over 46 million batteries at risk of overheating and exploding.^[109] One such incident occurred in the Philippines involving a Nokia N91, which uses the BL-5C battery.^[110]
In December 2006, Dell recalled approximately 22,000 laptop batteries from the US market.^[111] Approximately 10 million Sony batteries used in Dell, Sony, Apple, Lenovo/IBM, Panasonic, Toshiba, Hitachi, Fujitsu and Sharp laptops were recalled in 2006. The batteries were found to be susceptible to internal contamination by metal particles during manufacture. Under some circumstances, these particles could pierce the separator, causing a short-circuit.^[112]
In October 2004, Kyocera Wireless recalled approximately 1 million mobile phone batteries to identify counterfeits.^[113]

Transport restrictions

In January 2008, the United States Department of Transportation ruled that passengers on commercial aircraft could carry lithium batteries in their checked baggage if the batteries are installed in a device. Types of batteries affected by this rule are those containing lithium, including Li-ion, lithium polymer, and lithium cobalt oxide chemistries. Lithium-ion batteries containing more than 25 grams (0.88 oz) equivalent lithium content (ELC) are exempt from the rule and are forbidden in air travel.^[114] This restriction greatly reduces the chances of the batteries short-circuiting and causing a fire.^{[citation needed]}
Additionally, a limited number of replacement batteries may be transported in carry-on luggage. Such batteries must be sealed in their original protective packaging or in individual containers or plastic bags.^[114][115]
Some postal administrations restrict air shipping (including EMS) of lithium and lithium-ion batteries, and products containing these (for example: laptops, cell phones). Among these countries and regions are Hong Kong,^[116] Australia and Japan.^[117]
On 16 May 2012, United States Postal Service (USPS) began a ban of shipping anything that contained a Lithium Battery to an overseas address due to fires resulting from transport of batteries.^[118] Because of this restriction, it became exceptionally difficult to ship anything containing them to military troops or personnel stationed overseas, due to the USPS being the only method of shipment to these addresses. The ban was lifted on 15 November 2012.^[119]

Research

Researchers are working to improve the power density, safety, recharge cycle, cost and other characteristics of these batteries.
Solid-state designs ^[120] have the potential to deliver three times the energy density of typical 2011 lithium-ion batteries at less than half the cost per kilowatt-hour. This approach eliminates binders, separators, and liquid electrolytes. By eliminating these, "you can get around 95% of the theoretical energy density of the active materials."^[121]
Earlier trials of this technology encountered cost barriers, because the semiconductor industry's vacuum deposition technology cost 20–30 times too much. The new process deposits semiconductor-quality films from a solution. The nanostructured films grow directly on a substrate and then sequentially on top of each other. The process allows the firm to "spray-paint a cathode, then a separator/electrolyte, then the anode. It can be cut and stacked in various form factors.^[121]
Washington State University researchers expect to bring to market before June 2013 a tin anode technology that will triple the energy capacity of lithium ion batteries. The technology involves using standard electroplating process to create tin nanoneedles.^[122]

end quote from wikipedia under the heading "Lithium-ion batteries"