X-rays reveal inflated air pillow in exploding phone battery

X-ray images show the phone battery bulging and ready to explode due to the pillow-like gas buildup inside.

X-ray image of the inside of a lithium-ion battery. Photo: Canadian Light Source.

When using technologycomputed tomographyhigh energy x-rays to look at the processes taking place inside the batterylithium-ion,Toby Bond and colleagues at the Canadian Light Source physics research facility discovered the culprit that makes this type of battery prone to explosion,according toNew Scientist.

Lithium-ion batteries typically contain electrode plates rolled up in a spiral to accommodate the most electricity-generating layers, Bond says. However, the multi-layer design can be dangerous if gas forms inside.

Gas can build up if the battery is overheated, overcharged, or left empty for long periods of time. Under these conditions, the liquid components in the battery can evaporate and form gas. This causes the battery's outer shell to swell, resulting in a distinctive pillow-like shape.

“The battery can swell a little and continue to function, swell a lot and stop functioning, or continue to produce gas, leading to an explosion or fire,” Bond said. The swelling is easy to spot from the battery’s external appearance, but many users may not be aware of the gas hiding inside.

As the gas builds up, the electrode layers appear to warp and separate. Improvements in manufacturing could make lithium-ion batteries more durable, Bond says. But the team isn’t sure if the swelling process is present in the phones that have recently caught fire.

Bond emphasizes that the best way to protect lithium-ion batteries is to avoid overheating them. "Stop playing games on your phone for hours at a time and give your tablet a rest instead of watching movies during a nine-hour flight," Bond shares.

According to VNE