Advances in Thermal Management of Lithium-Ion Batteries: Causes of Thermal Runaway and Mitigation Strategies

With the widespread use of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and portable electronic devices, concerns regarding their thermal runaway have escalated, raising significant safety issues. Despite advances in existing thermal management technologies, challenges remain in addressing the complexity and variability of battery thermal runaway. These challenges include the limited heat dissipation capability of passive thermal management, the high energy consumption of active thermal management, and the ongoing optimization of material improvement methods. This paper systematically examines the mechanisms through which three main triggers—mechanical abuse, thermal abuse, and electrical abuse—affect the thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries. It also reviews the advantages and limitations of passive and active thermal management techniques, battery management systems, and material improvement strategies for enhancing the thermal stability of batteries. Additionally, a comparison of the principles, characteristics, and innovative examples of various thermal management technologies is provided in tabular form. The study aims to offer a theoretical foundation and practical guidance for optimizing lithium-ion battery thermal management technologies, thereby promoting their development for high-safety and high-reliability applications.