Thermal management of lithium ion batteries using graphene coated nickel foam saturated with phase change materials

Lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries are an integral part of electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles because of their high energy and power density. These batteries suffer from a high temperature rise during operation, thus affecting their life span and efficiency. In this study, thermal management of Li-ion batteries was accomplished by using a novel material (Graphene coated nickel (GcN) foam saturated with paraffin). The growth of graphene coated on nickel foam was carried out using chemical vapor deposition. The thermal conductivity of the pure paraffin wax was enhanced by 23 times after infiltrating it into the GcN foam. The paraffin was used as a phase change material (PCM). The melting and freezing temperatures of the GcN foam saturated with paraffin were increased and decreased respectively as compared to pure paraffin. The latent heat and specific heat of the GcN foam saturated with paraffin is decreased by 30% and 34% respectively as compared to pure paraffin. The thermal management for Li-ion batteries is also compared among five materials: nickel foam, paraffin wax, GcN foam, nickel foam saturated with paraffin and GcN foam saturated with paraffin. The battery surface temperature rise is 17% less using graphene coated nickel foam saturated with PCM as compared to using nickel foam under 1.7 A discharge current.