As we push towards renewable energy, we need more and more batteries to hold onto excess energy for when the wind stops blowing into windmills and the sun sets on solar panels. The most popular, but also infamous type of battery are lithium ion batteries, which are known for holding a lot of energy for their size, and charging quickly. But they are also infamous for overheating, catching fire, and even exploding. But as it turns out, the main reason for this danger is manufacturing defects, including chemical impurities in the lithium inside the battery. But thanks to scanning electron microscopy and special software, the process of purifying the lithium used in lithium ion batteries, which not only speeds up the process, making them cheaper, but also improving the quality of the lithium, making them safer.
The article relates to chemistry by explaining why Lithium batteries ignite by looking at the chemical flaws, and how this advancement works to rectify that. It acknowledges the controversy of lithium batteries, and eases the worries a little bit as it explains how this technology works to solve that problem. I think it actually fights chemophobia by explaining how chemists are using a technology to perfect these batteries.
https://assets.thermofisher.com/TFS-Assets/MSD/Methods-&-Protocols/battery-perception.pdf
This article discusses an interesting and important problem in Li battery manufacturing. I would try to put that in the first sentence and then go on to discuss the fire safety issues. Your summary is concise and readable. I quite like the title. Your comments on relevance to chemistry are appropriate. The source of this piece is from Thermofisher marketing materials and is likely to reach mainly people in the battery manufacturing business. It is not really a general interest source.
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