HITACHI MAXELL MAKES SAFER SEPARATOR FOR LITHIUM ION BATTERIES

TOKYO, Jul 30, 2008 (AsiaPulse via COMTEX) -- HMXLF | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Hitachi Maxell Ltd. (TSE:6810) has developed a separator that increases the safety of lithium ion batteries.

The new separator exhibits less than one-tenth of the normal amount of thermal shrinkage, reducing the chance that shorts will develop, causing fire.

The company hopes to have a practical version of the technology ready within the year.

The separator is the thin sheet that functions as an insulator between the positive and negative electrodes, allowing only ions to pass. It is made from a sheet of polyolefin resin dotted with tiny holes.

To reduce the thermal shrinkage of the separator, Hitachi Maxell covers this sheet with an even, nanolayer coating of a metal oxide material, processed as microscopic flakes. The company said the coating does not alter the charge capacity of the battery.

The coated separator shrinks by less than 5% even when heated to 180 C. There is therefore much less chance of the separator shrinking to the extent that the electrodes can make contact and short out.

(Nikkei)

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