The exponentially growing electrification market is driving demand for
lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with high performance. However, LIB thermal runaway
events are one of the unresolved safety concerns. Thermal runaway of an
individual LIB can cause a chain reaction of runaway events in nearby cells, or
thermal propagation, potentially causing significant battery fires and
explosions. Such a safety issue of LIBs raises a huge concern for a variety of
applications including electric vehicles (EVs). With increasingly higher
energy-density battery technologies being implemented in EVs to enable a longer
driving mileage per charge, LIB safety enhancement is becoming critical for
customers. This comprehensive review offers an encompassing overview of
prevalent abuse conditions, the thermal event processes and mechanisms
associated with LIBs, and various strategies for suppression, prevention, and
mitigation. Importantly, the report presents a unique vantage point,
amalgamating insights sourced not only from academic research but also from a
pragmatic industrial perspective, thus enriching the breadth and depth of the
information presented.
