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Lithium-ion Battery Safety

  • 1st Edition - February 18, 2026
  • Latest edition
  • Authors: Zhirong Wang, Dongxu Ouyang, Qiong Cai
  • Language: English

Lithium-ion Battery Safety provides an in-depth exploration of the safety challenges associated with lithium-ion batteries, focusing on thermal runaway—a critical and potentially… Read more

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Description

Lithium-ion Battery Safety provides an in-depth exploration of the safety challenges associated with lithium-ion batteries, focusing on thermal runaway—a critical and potentially catastrophic failure mode. The book systematically analyzes the mechanisms, characteristics, and influencing factors of thermal runaway under various abusive conditions, such as mechanical, electrical, and thermal stresses. It examines the propagation of thermal runaway, its derivative disasters, and effective countermeasures, offering valuable insights into prevention, mitigation, and safety management to safeguard lives and property while supporting sustainable development. This book is ideal for researchers, engineers, industry professionals, policymakers, and students involved in battery technology, energy storage, and safety management.

It aims to enhance understanding, promote industry-standard safety practices, support technological innovation, and contribute to the sustainable growth of the new energy ecosystem. Whether you are involved in battery design, safety regulation, or industry application, this comprehensive guide will equip you with the knowledge needed to prevent accidents and advance safer energy storage solutions.

Key features

  • Enhances a comprehensive understanding of the safety of lithium-ion batteries
  • Benefits industry standardization and technological innovation-driven development
  • Supports social public services and policies
  • Enhances the sustainable development of the new energy industry ecosystem

Readership

Book empowers engineers, researchers, policymakers, and system designers with in-depth knowledge and applied techniques for lithium-ion battery management and control

Table of contents

1. Introduction

1.1 Development and application of lithium-ion batteries

1.2 Composition and working principle of lithium-ion batteries

1.3 Thermal runaway mechanism of lithium-ion batteries

1.4 Safety standards related to lithium-ion batteries

1.5 Summary 1.6 References


2. Thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries induced by mechanical abuse

2.1 Experimental apparatus and methods

2.2 Thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries under the coupling effect of uniform extrusion and over-heating

2.3 Thermal runaway wreckage of lithium-ion batteries under the coupling effect of non-uniform extrusion and over-heating

2.4 Thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries under the coupling effect of lateral non-uniform extrusion and over-heating

2.5 Thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries under the coupling effect of cylindrical non-uniform extrusion and over-heating

2.6 Thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries under the coupling effect of ball-head non-uniform extrusion and over-heating

2.7 Thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries under the coupling effect of nail penetration and over-heating

2.8 Summary 2.9 References


3. Thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries induced by electrical abuse

3.1 Experimental apparatus and methods

3.2 Electrothermal behavior and internal physical/chemical changes of lithium-ion batteries during overcharge

3.3 Thermal stability of overcharged lithium-ion batteries

3.4 Thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries with various cathode chemistries induced by overcharge

3.5 Thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries with various capacities induced by overcharge

3.6 Thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries with various current rates induced by overcharge

3.7 Summary

3.8 References


4. Thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries induced by thermal abuse

4.1 Experimental apparatus and methods

4.2 Thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries induced by various thermal abuses

4.3 Thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries with various states of charge induced by thermal abuse

4.4 Thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries with various heating powers induced by thermal abuse

4.5 Thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries with various capacities induced by thermal abuse

4.6 Thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries with various cathode chemistries induced by thermal abuse

4.7 Thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries during charge/discharge induced by thermal abuse

4.8 Summary

4.9 References


5. Electrochemical and thermal behaviors of aged lithium-ion batteries

5.1 Experimental apparatus and methods

5.2 Electrochemical and thermal behaviors of lithium-ion batteries aged at various current rates

5.3 Electrochemical and thermal behaviors of aged lithium-ion batteries after overcharge/over-discharge cycling

5.4 Electrochemical and thermal behaviors of aged lithium-ion batteries after long-term cycling at abusive temperatures

5.5 Electrochemical and thermal behaviors of aged lithium-ion batteries after long-term storage at abusive temperatures

5.6 Summary

5.7 References


6. Thermal runaway propagation of lithium-ion batteries

6.1 Experimental apparatus and methods

6.2 Thermal runaway propagation characteristics of lithium-ion batteries

6.3 Thermal runaway propagation of lithium-ion batteries with various states of charge

6.4 Thermal runaway propagation of lithium-ion batteries with various cell gaps

6.5 Thermal runaway propagation of lithium-ion batteries with various connections

6.6 Thermal runaway propagation of lithium-ion batteries with various arrangements

6.7 Thermal runaway propagation of lithium-ion batteries with various failure locations

6.8 Thermal runaway propagation of lithium-ion batteries under various environments

6.9 Summary

6.10 References


7. Derivative disasters of lithium-ion battery thermal runaway

7.1 Experimental apparatus and methods

7.2 Visibility decline caused by lithium-ion battery thermal runaway

7.3 Toxic hazards caused by lithium-ion battery thermal runaway

7.4 Pressure shock hazards caused by lithium-ion battery thermal runaway

7.5 Heat hazards caused by lithium-ion battery thermal runaway

7.6 Explosion hazards caused by lithium-ion battery thermal runaway

7.7 Summary

7.8 References


8. Thermal runaway simulation analysis of lithium-ion batteries

8.1 Simulation methods and models

8.2 Electrochemical-thermal models of cylindrical lithium-ion battery during discharge process

8.3 Thermal runaway behaviour of cylindrical lithium-ion battery under different states of charge

8.4 Aging behavior and mechanisms of lithium-ion battery under multi-aging path

8.5 Summary

8.6 References


9. Countermeasures for lithium-ion battery thermal runaway

9.1 Experimental apparatus and methods

9.2 Thermal management of lithium-ion battery thermal runaway

9.3 Early warning of lithium-ion battery thermal runaway

9.4 Barriers of lithium-ion battery thermal runaway

9.5 Fire extinguishing of lithium-ion battery thermal runaway

9.6 Summary

9.7 References


10. Prospects of safety protection for lithium-ion battery thermal runaway Including the current situation and deficiencies faced by lithium-ion battery and its safety countermeasures, as well as the developing direction of lithium-ion battery safety

Product details

  • Edition: 1
  • Latest edition
  • Published: February 18, 2026
  • Language: English

About the authors

ZW

Zhirong Wang

Zhirong Wang is the Dean of the College of Emergency Management at Nanjing Tech University, and the Director of the Key Laboratory of New Energy Storage Battery Safety and Emergency Technology in the petroleum and chemical industry. He has won the China Youth Science and Technology Award and the honor of leading talents in science and technology innovation under the National Ten Thousand Talents Plan. Additionally, he is honored as a Distinguished Professor of Jiangsu Province, receiving special funding for his contributions. He has been working at Nanjing Tech University since 2005. From 2013 to 2014, he was a visiting professor at the University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA. His research interests include fire and explosion prevention and control, hazardous chemical safety, lithium-ion battery safety, hydrogen safety, etc. He has directed over 20 research projects, including one key project and one sub-project under the National Key R&D Program, five projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation, and provincial and ministerial research projects. He has published over 200 SCI papers as the first author or corresponding author in renowned domestic and international journals, affirming his leadership in emergency management research. He has been authorized 5 international patents, and more than 40 Chinese invention patents. His extensive work has earned him prestigious awards such as the National Technological Progress Second Prize, the first prize of Invention and Innovation of China Association of Invention(gold medal), and the first prize of Science and Technology Progress of China, Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation.

Affiliations and expertise
Dean, College of Emergency Management, Nanjing Tech University, China

DO

Dongxu Ouyang

Dongxu Ouyang received his doctorate degree in 2021 at the State Key Laboratory of Fire Science, University of Science and Technology of China, and is currently an associate professor at Nanjing Tech University. His research interests focus on lithium-ion battery safety evaluation, thermal management, and high-voltage electrolytes.
Affiliations and expertise
Associate Professor, Nanjing Tech University, China

QC

Qiong Cai

Qiong Cai is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and a Professor in Sustainable Energy and Materials at the University of Surrey, UK. Her expertise is in multiscale materials modelling and design for sustainable energy conversion and storage applications including batteries, hydrogen production and utilisation. She obtained her MEng in Materials Science and Engineering from Tsinghua University and PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Edinburgh. Followed by postdoctoral research at Imperial College London, she joined the University of Surrey in 2012, where she was promoted to Professor in 2023. Her research has been funded by various funding bodies including UKRI EPSRC, Faraday Institution, Horizon Europe, Royal Society, and Henry Royce Institute, involving in several major UK and European Consortium. She has supervised 12 postdocs and 20 PhD students as the primary supervisor to successful completion, and has published 180 peer-reviewed research papers.

Affiliations and expertise
Professor in Sustainable Energy and Materials, University Of Surrey, UK

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