New ‘smart’ fibers curb fires in lithium-ion batteries
Tiny capsules release flame retardant when temperatures get too hot
![flame resistant fibers](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/011217_ec_battery-fire_main_free.jpg?fit=860%2C460&ssl=1)
FIRE FIGHTER To stop battery fires in their tracks, researchers formed tiny fibers containing flame retardant, shown above in an image taken by a scanning electron microscope. If the battery overheats, the fibers’ plastic shells melt, releasing the flame retardant encapsulated inside.
Kai Liu et al/Science Advances 2017