J.W. Sun, X.Y. Shi * and Z.-S. Wu *

National Science Open, 2026, accepted.

In summary, this work establishes guiding principles for achieving intrinsic battery safety that is free from thermal runaway, going beyond simply making the electrolyte non-flammable. The concept of thermally responsive in-situ polymerization electrolytes may also be extendable beyond SIBs to lithium-ion and other battery systems. For instance, applying a similar PNE strategy to a high-energy lithium-rich layered oxide cathode and a silicon anode could simultaneously mitigate thermal runaway and extend cycle life, thereby addressing two critical challenges in next-generation lithium-based batteries. As grid energy storage continuously expand, this study provides an important scientific and technological foundation for developing truly safe and high-performance rechargeable battery systems suitable for future deployment.