From the phone in your pocket to massive warehouses and even national defense systems, batteries are quietly powering much of modern life.
Lithium-ion batteries dominate today’s market, but as demand for energy storage grows, researchers are racing to design safer, stronger, and more sustainable alternatives.
Scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are leading this effort, with a special focus on safety.
Next-generation batteries, which may include alkali metal anodes, solid electrolytes, or cathodes made from Earth-abundant materials, promise longer lifespans and better performance. But they also bring new risks.
“Over the years, we’ve learned a lot about why lithium-ion batteries fail,” explained Donal Finegan, senior energy storage scientist at NREL.
“But next-generation batteries behave differently. Their chemical reactions, toxicity, mechanical strength, and fire risks aren’t fully understood yet. To build the batteries of the future, we need to understand these safety challenges first.”
In a new article published in Nature, NREL researchers highlight the importance of studying battery safety at every level: from individual materials to entire battery packs.
Their framework considers how factors like oxygen exposure, state of charge, and a battery’s “aging history” can influence safety.
Matt Keyser, senior energy storage engineer at NREL, stresses the importance of this work. “Battery safety research is the foundation of reliable energy systems.
Safer batteries mean more dependable power for everything from consumer gadgets to national security. But we need a clear strategy to expand safety research and guide the adoption of new technologies.”
NREL uses advanced tools like machine learning, computer modeling, and detailed material testing to predict how batteries behave under stress.
These approaches allow researchers to simulate years of use in a fraction of the time, uncovering how new designs might react to overheating, damage, or long-term cycling.
Some of these insights are encouraging. New designs may deliver lighter, longer-lasting, and more resilient batteries.
But they also come with challenges such as controlling gas buildup, toxic byproducts, or dangerous thermal reactions.
Traditional methods for testing lithium-ion batteries can help, but new techniques are needed to capture the unique behaviors of emerging systems.
Artificial intelligence is accelerating this process by predicting how different materials will behave under real-world conditions. By bridging the gap between small-scale lab tests and large commercial batteries, researchers can better anticipate risks before the technology reaches consumers.
“Our goal is to make sure the batteries of tomorrow are not just powerful but also safe,” Finegan said. “With better data and smarter tools, we can guide the development of next-generation batteries that keep pace with the world’s growing energy demands.”
Source: National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
