The Cement That Could Turn Your House into a Massive Battery
Concrete transformed into an energy storage device known as a supercapacitor. Supercapacitors charge faster than traditional lithium-ion batteries. Potential applications include solar energy-storing roads and energy-storing foundations for buildings.
In a laboratory in Cambridge, Massachusetts, researchers have discovered a way to transform concrete into an energy storage device known as a supercapacitor. This breakthrough could revolutionise the way we store and utilise renewable energy.
The team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University's Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering have developed a supercapacitor using three simple and inexpensive materials: water, cement, and carbon black. Supercapacitors are highly efficient at storing energy and have the advantage of charging much faster than traditional lithium-ion batteries. However, they have not been widely used due to their rapid power release, which makes them less suitable for devices requiring a steady energy supply over an extended period.
Damian Stefaniuk, one of the researchers involved in the project, believes that carbon-cement supercapacitors could be a game-changer in the quest to decarbonise our global economy. The technology has the potential to store renewable energy on a large scale, addressing the intermittent nature of sources like solar and wind power.
The applications for this innovative technology are vast. One possibility is the creation of solar energy-storing roads that can wirelessly recharge electric cars as they drive. The rapid release of energy from the carbon-cement supercapacitor would provide a quick boost to the vehicle's battery. Another potential use is incorporating energy-storing foundations into buildings, allowing walls, foundations, or columns to store energy while supporting the structure.
While the current concrete supercapacitor can store a modest amount of energy, further development could lead to larger versions capable of powering entire houses. Stefaniuk envisions a future where a residential house's daily energy needs could be met by a foundation made of 30-40 cubic meters of concrete.
The key to the supercapacitor's success lies in the conductive properties of carbon black. When combined with cement powder and water, it forms a concrete full of conductive networks, resembling intricate roots. By applying an electric current to the carbon black cement plates soaked in an electrolyte salt, the supercapacitor accumulates and stores large amounts of charge quickly.
While this breakthrough shows promise, there are still challenges to overcome. The researchers are working on optimising the mixture to improve the supercapacitor's performance and exploring ways to reduce the environmental impact of cement production.
Despite these hurdles, experts believe that this innovation could be a significant step towards a cleaner and more sustainable future. The ability to utilise the built environment itself as an energy storage medium opens up exciting possibilities for a world powered by clean energy.
Concrete transformed into an energy storage device known as a supercapacitor
Supercapacitors charge faster than traditional lithium-ion batteries
Potential applications include solar energy-storing roads and energy-storing foundations for buildings
Source: BBC