During the global energy transition, electric vehicles and electrochemical energy storage systems are rapidly gaining popularity, leading to a strong demand for lithium battery technology with high energy density and long lifespan. This technological advancement, however, hinges critically on resolving safety challenges posed by intrinsically reactive components particularly flammable polymeric separators, organic electrolyte systems, and high-capacity electrodes, which collectively elevate risks of thermal runaway (TR) under operational conditions. The strategic integration of smart polymeric materials that enable early detection of TR precursors (e.g., gas evolution, thermal spikes, voltage anomalies) and autonomously interrupt TR propagation chains has emerged as a vital paradigm for next-generation battery safety engineering. This paper begins with the development characteristics of thermal runaway in lithium batteries and analyzes recent breakthroughs in polymer-centric component design, multi-parameter sensing polymers, and TR propagation barriers. The discussion extends to intelligent material systems for emerging battery chemistries (e.g., solid-state, lithium-metal) and extreme operational environments, proposing design frameworks that leverage polymer multifunctionality for hierarchical safety mechanisms. These insights establish foundational principles for developing polymer-integrated lithium batteries that harmonize high energy density with intrinsic safety, addressing critical needs in sustainable energy infrastructure.

Cranes are widely used in the construction industry for the installation, maintenance and repair of large, specialized equipment. With the increased use of cranes, there has been more frequent occurrence of crane accidents, which makes it difficult to identify key causative factors and create the crane accident chain due to large amounts of accident data. In this study, an intelligent method was established to determine the key factors and crane accident chain by combining text mining, complex network and integrated interpretive structure modeling (ISM) in this study. Causative factors of crane accidents were firstly identified using text mining based on 203 accidents that occurred from 2011 to 2022 in China. Meanwhile, an indicator system for crane operation causative factors was established by calculating the term frequency-inverse document frequency value. Subsequently, a complex network was constructed to determine the key causative factors. Furthermore, the crane accident chain was established using ISM. Finally, a practical tower crane accident was used to verify the rationality of the accident chain. The results showed that factors such as “cross parallel operation” and “insufficient safety management” were found to play a key role of crane operation. This study can provide a reference for the targeted safety management of crane operation and improve crane operation safety in the construction.

During the global energy transition, electric vehicles and electrochemical energy storage systems are rapidly gaining popularity, leading to a strong demand for lithium battery technology with high energy density and long lifespan. However, the highly integrated components, such as flammable polymers, organic electrolytes, and high energy density electrodes, make the batteries susceptible to thermal runaway (TR) under abuse conditions, resulting in fire and explosion incidents. The key approach to ensure the safe operation of LIBs including detecting and responding to thermal runaway characteristic parameters, that enables premature response window for disaster incidents and interruption of disaster propagation chain. This paper begins with the development characteristics of thermal runaway in lithium batteries and provides a review of research progress in areas such as the design principle in key battery components especially for polymers, multi-parameter responsive characteristics, and mechanisms for blocking thermal runaway. It analyzes the challenges faced by inorganic and organic materials based on multi-parameter responses in the fields of thermal response and thermal runaway suppression, and it looks ahead to research directions in the design and application of intelligent safety materials in new battery systems and complex scenarios. The findings aim to provide scientific guidance for promoting the design and application of high-safety lithium batteries.