Why do lithium batteries explode?

Samsung's decision to halt deals of the new Galaxy Note 7 because of reports of battery explosions is an extraordinary step for a tech mammoth to take.
The establishment said it had linked a battery issue but didn't unfold.

But if a lithium- ion battery cell charges too snappily or a bitsy manufacturing error slips through the net it can affect in a short circuit which can lead to fire.
One expert prompted the assiduity to find safer druthers to lithium.

" I suppose one should be concerned and push towards safer battery tech," said energy storehouse expert Professor Clare Grey from Cambridge University.
" That should be an important focus on exploration and assiduity development.

" While utmost manufacturing excrescencies will be picked up during original testing, it's not an unerring process."
Still Prof Grey also said that people shouldn't horrify.

" I am standing at an field- every single person would have to stop what they're doing if we took their batteries down from them," she said.
" We all take pitfalls in our lives we drive buses sitting on top of ignitable organic liquids. Other tech is coming along that's safer."

Common causes

There have only been 35 cases of the Galaxy Note 7 catching fire reported worldwide following2.5 million deals, Samsung says.

The lithium ion batteries used by Samsung are common across the tech assiduity- so what makes them dangerous?

A Galaxy Note 7 reportedly caught fire shortly after its bowl was unplugged
It's important to understand a little about how they work. Simply they contain a cathode, an anode and lithium.

The cathode and anode are separated by an organic liquid called an electrolyte and a pervious material called the division.
The lithium travels through the division, within the liquid, between the two.

Quick charge

still, generating heat, lithium plates form around the anode which can produce a short circuit, If the battery charges too fast.

" typically you would have a battery operation system that controls the rate at which you charge," said Prof Grey.

" Batteries are optimised so that you do not charge too presto- if you do that you'll plate the lithium."

This is also why battery charging can be a frustratingly slow experience, she added.

Other faults that can beget a short circuit include impurity by bitsy fractions of essence during the product process or nanosecond holes in the sealing, which might not come apparent until the battery has been charged a many times as the accoutrements expand and contract.

" The manufacturing has got a lot further standardised than it was 10 to 15 times agone ," said Prof Grey.

still battery packs combining battery cells to induce further power- can be problematic and this is decreasingly common. Batteries containing 12 cells, for illustration, are readily available for laptops.

" The further you put together, the advanced the liability that some will fail," she added.

" There are still excrescencies arising but it's getting better. It's a challenge- with so numerous being produced, you just need one error."

Signs to watch out for

There can be symptoms indicating that a battery is about to fail, said support and repairs provider Geek Squad.
" occasionally, a battery will start to swell and bulge before it fails fully, as the internal cells rupture and break," it says on its website.

" But the bulge does not always happen.However, you might notice that your device is a little warmer than usual- but let's be honest, our phones get fairly warm during standard operation anyway, If not."
The establishment suggests disposing of any batteries displaying these signs.