Thermal runaway is the main factor contributing to the unsafe behaviors of lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)in practical applications.The application of separators for the thermal shutdown has been proven as an effective approach to protecting LIBs from thermal runaway.In this work,we developed a thermal shutdown separator by coating a thin layer of low-density polyethylene microspheres(PM)onto a commercial porous polypropylene(PP)membrane and investigated the thermal response behaviors of the as-prepared PM/PP separator in LIBs.The structural and thermal analysis results revealed that the coated PM layer had a porous structure,which facilitated the occurrence of normal charge-discharge reactions at ambient temperature,although it could melt completely and fuse together within very short time periods:3 s at 110℃and 1 s at 120℃,to block off the pores of the PP substrate,thereby cutting off the ion transportation between the electrodes and interrupting the battery reaction.Consequently,the PM/PP separator exhibits very similar electrochemical performance to that of a conventional separator at ambient temperature.However,it performs a rapid thermal shutdown at an elevated temperature of^110℃,thus controlling the temperature rise and maintaining the cell in a safe status.Due to its synthetic simplicity and low cost,this separator shows promise for possible application in building safe LIBs.
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