HPPN member Awarded POC2026 Grant to Advance Next-Generation EV Battery Fire Safety with EV-SHIELD
June 1, 2026Dr. Xiang Ao, a Postdoctoral Researcher in the High-Performance Polymer Nanocomposites (HPPN) Group, has been awarded the prestigious Materialise 2026 Proof-of-Concept (POC2026) grant by the IMDEA Materials Institute. The funded project, acronymed EV-SHIELD, aims to revolutionize electric vehicle (EV) safety and is being carried out with the strong support and scientific guidance of Prof. Dr. De-Yi Wang.
As EV battery energy densities increase, thermal runaway events present a catastrophic “Dual-Damage” scenario: extreme flames exceeding 1200°C combined with high-velocity abrasive particle blasts. To meet strict global safety regulations, current solutions rely on heavy and expensive multi-layer metal or full-ceramic shields.
EV-SHIELD overcomes these limitations by developing an inherently flame-retardant, lightweight thermoset polymer composite. Functioning as a robust structural plastic during normal operation, the material instantly transforms into a resilient ceramic-like protective shield under extreme heat. With a thickness of just 2.5 mm, the technology has already demonstrated exceptional durability during third-party Torch and Grit (TaG) testing.
Backed by the POC2026 funding, Dr. Ao will lead the transition of this technology from lab-scale coupons to industrial 3D prototype molding. Over the next 12 months, the team will execute a definitive “killer experiment”—a full thermal runaway propagation simulation on a 100Wh battery module prototype. This pivotal milestone will elevate the technology to TRL 5, answering the regulatory and technical demands of Tier-1 automotive partners and paving the way for future commercialization and spin-off creation.
