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WHY DO SMARTPHONE AND LAPTOP BATTERIES EXPLODE?

Lithium batteries power most modern, portable gadgets - from smartphones to laptops and handheld gaming devices.

The batteries are incredibly safe, but have been known to explode if they are faulty or overheat.

Rechargeable batteries store an incredible amount of power in a small space, and are designed to release that power slowly over time.

A faulty battery can lose its ability to deliver power in a controlled fashion, causing it to release this energy all at once, which can cause an explosion.

Faulty batteries broadly fall into three categories.

Some, such as the infamous Galaxy Note 7 battery, come with a design flaw that means they cannot store charge properly.

Faults can also be picked up during normal usage, for instance if a device is splashed with water or left out in the sun too long.

Counterfeit products are also a common source of battery explosions as they are designed and built on the cheap - often ignoring safety regulations.

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