What is all this business we keep hearing about batteries exploding and catching on fire? Boeing knows this problem far too well, as the company's 787 Dreamliners were grounded after experiencing multiple battery fires in 2013. It happens, whether we like it or not, and is usually caused from small conductive pathways inside of the battery that end up in shortages. Now, a new breakthrough in battery technology could put an end to unwanted battery fires. Kevlar, a heat-resistant fiber used in bulletproof vests, could be the answer.

The trick to a good battery isn't just life, but safety and insulation, and it looks like Kevlar's ability to stop projectile bullets also shows promise for preventing the root cause of a battery fire. They work by “insulating the electrodes in a battery while still allowing lithium ions to pass through and create a proper circuit” (Engadget). Because Kevlar cells are also much thinner, not only are they less at risk for short circuiting, but are perfect for fitting inside our slim smartphones and tablets. Overall, they make for a stronger and thinner option over traditional lithium cells.

A team at the University of Michigan is gearing up to get Kevlar batteries into mass production by late 2016. This is exciting because despite all the ideas for enhancing batteries, not all battery experiments become manifested. While the actual technology was funded by the National Science Foundation, the researchers at the University have now created their own company, called Elegus Technologies. Once the team gets the batteries up and running, Boeing might just be one of the first to swap in Kevlar. Then, we'll probably see them in smartphones, and even ultra-thin smartphones, possibly powering them longer than we've seen so far.