Abstract: As an efficient and clean energy storage carrier, lithium-ion batteries play an important role in achieving the goal of carbon neutrality due to their advantages of high energy density, low self-discharge, fast charging and long cycle life. However, due to the activity of the materials and the flammability of the electrolyte, lithium-ion batteries fall into thermal runaway easily under abuse conditions, and the generation of a large amount of heat and flammable gases can cause fire and even explosion accidents. The potential safety issues and high fire risks of lithium-ion batteries have limited their large-scale application in electric vehicles and electrochemical energy storage systems. Aiming at the thermal runaway and fire issues of lithium-ion batteries, this paper reviews the relevant research on the characteristics of thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries under thermal abuse, and summarizes the research progress from the thermal stabilities of battery materials to the behaviors of thermal runaway in the single battery, then to the evolution characteristics of TR propagation of the battery module. Furthermore, the prevention and inhibition technologies of thermal runaway and its propagation are analyzed, and the research suggestions and prospects are proposed in this paper.

Key words: lithium-ion battery, thermal abuse, thermal runaway, thermal runaway propagation, inhibition of thermal runaway