| Optodot offers Safer, Heat-Resistant Separator for improved Lithium Ion Batteries September 14, 2006 - Optodot Press Release
BOSTON, Mass. – The heat is on the lithium ion battery industry after the recent recall of nearly 6 million Sony batteries in Dell and Apple notebook computers. This recall has given a huge boost to companies with solutions to this safety problem.
Optodot Corporation is introducing SuperSafeä, a safer separator, or insulating layer, for lithium ion batteries. Their patented solution goes right to the causes of the problem and eliminates them. It does so without adding cost to the battery. Separators are thin membranes that keep the positive side of a battery from touching the negative side but yet contain small pores that allow lithium ions to flow from one side to the other when the battery is being used.
The overheating and fires that precipitated the Sony battery recalls were caused by microscopic metal particles that had found their way into the pores of the separator and had made a connection between the positive and negative sides. This short circuit causes the battery to heat up. If the temperature increases to a high level, the separator melts, which magnifies the chance of fire or explosion.
The heat-resistant SuperSafeä separator from Optodot prevents this from happening in two ways. First, it is heat-resistant, and it won’t melt the way today’s plastic separators do because it is designed to withstand much higher temperatures. Second, the pores of SuperSafeä separators are nanoporous and about five times smaller than the pores of conventional plastic separators and do not let microscopic metal particles in that cause a short circuit.
Because of these safety protection features, Optodot’s SuperSafeä separator is well suited to address the safety concerns about lithium ion batteries. Several companies are testing SuperSafeä, which is currently manufactured in the US and Europe.
About Optodot Corporation
Optodot Corporation, founded in 2000, develops nanoscale materials for the energy and security markets. Their patented technology includes nanoporous membranes and infrared (IR) optical materials. Products range from solar control window films and security and custom IR optical films to components for organic photovoltaic (OPV) markets and lithium batteries. For more information about this innovative Boston company, visit www.optodot.com.
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