Lithium-ion batteries : Smartphones in the sun: Danger of overheated batteries

20 degrees Celsius is the ideal operating temperature for smartphones, but above 30 degrees Celsius it becomes critical for electronic devices. Leaving your phone in the blazing sun or in a hot car not only shortens the life of your smartphone, it also causes it to overheat quickly. If you continue to use your phone despite the warning, the battery will begin to expand and, in the worst case, could explode. The danger lurks not only in smartphones, but anywhere lithium-ion batteries are used, including tablets, e-cigarettes and laptops. "As a rule of thumb, heat and batteries don't mix," explains VOEB Vice President and battery expert Andreas Opelt. "An overheated lithium battery is dangerous, so be sure to turn it off and let it cool down."

Related article: The Hidden Danger: Li-ion Batteries as Fire Hazards in Waste Management Facilities

The sun is bad for your smartphone. But if you use your phone intensively in the sun, have a lot of apps open in the background or even load them, overheating will increase. Direct sunlight accelerates the electrochemical processes in the battery, the phone itself cannot dissipate the heat, and even protective covers prevent heat dissipation. Smartphones are often damaged as a result. "However, a damaged battery or phone is still valuable. Smartphones contain valuable raw materials such as copper, cobalt, silver and lithium-ion batteries," explains Opelt. Recycling allows these scarce raw materials to be reprocessed and returned to the cycle. This is an important contribution to the circular economy, especially in view of the increasing amount of electronic waste.

In addition to smartphones, lithium-ion batteries are used in a wide range of everyday items - from tablets and e-scooters to children's toys and e-vapes. "Many people don't realise the deadly consequences of even one improperly disposed battery, as there is an extreme risk of fire if it heats up or is damaged. There are more and more headlines about fires in waste collection centres or recycling companies. The cause is usually a tiny battery that has ignited due to friction or heat," warns Andreas Opelt. "This leads to explosive fires that are difficult to extinguish. The association therefore urges the public to ensure that electronic devices do not contain any batteries before disposing of them, and to return batteries only to retailers or waste collection centres. Furthermore, lithium-ion batteries contain valuable raw materials that can be processed by recycling companies if they are disposed of correctly. If they end up in residual waste, valuable materials such as lithium, nickel or cobalt are lost.