Abstract: Environmental and energy issues have increased the demand for advanced energy storage technologies, such as lithium-ion batteries, as a key component in this round of new energy revolution. However, lithium-ion batteries face safety issues, especially fire hazards caused by large-scale thermal runaway and its spread. This paper addresses these challenges and summarizes the methods of applying insulating materials to prevent thermal runaway and its propagation. It summaries the functions of different insulation materials in terms of heat absorption, heat insulation, and their combination. Moreover, it reviews the numerical models for studying battery thermal runaway and fire and its preventive measures at the system level. The aim of this paper is to clarify the research and development of insulating materials and provide ideas for future innovation.

Key words: lithium-ion battery, energy storage safety, thermal runaway propagation, insulation materials