Evolution of thermal management systems for lithium-ion battery using flexible phase change material: a comprehensive scientific mapping

Lithium-ion batteries have emerged as promising solutions due to their numerous advantages, including mitigating intermittency of renewable energy supply, energy density, endurance, low self-discharge, and extended shelf life. The increasing operating temperature of lithium-ion batteries (LIB) is a significant issue that researchers are continuously addressing to manage battery temperature effectively. Extreme temperatures can greatly impact the performance, durability, and lifespan of these batteries. One recent method adopted by researchers to reduce battery temperature involves the use of flexible composite phase change materials (FCPCM). This study aims to analyze important data and valuable insights from literature since 2018 for new researchers in academia with relevant sources and potential collaborations. The data analysis from the literature is conducted through a bibliometric evaluation. The analysis highlights various clusters of keywords that focus on issues and their solutions considered by researchers in this field. The main findings reveal that Zhang Guoqing, Li Xinxi, and Deng Jian are the top three contributors, and the Journal of Energy Storage, Applied Thermal Engineering and chemical engineering journal are the major sources, containing about 49.36% of total publications. The keyword cluster analysis reveals three major concerns: "thermal performance," "stability," and "safety" (flame retardancy). Future studies should consider mitigating electric hazards and evaluation of vibration effect on thermal performance and stability of the PCM.