A current problem with Lithium ion (Li-ion) laptop batteries us that they have the tendency to burst spontaneously into flames. Although, this only happens to a small fraction of batteries. Manufacturers are still trying to improve the batteries to prevent this. At the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), a team led by Scott R. White, has spent almost two decades developing "self-healing" materials to combat the overheating of laptop batteries and improve lithium battery safety.
If you would like to read more, please visit the following link. http://science.energy.gov/discovery-and-innovation/stories/2012/127035/