New Breakthrough: Electrified Cement That Could Turn Houses and Roads Into Batteries

Imagine power from the ground up — almost literally.

Researchers have achieved a significant breakthrough in energy storage technology, potentially revolutionizing the way we harness and store electricity.

A team of scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has developed a method to store electricity in cement, using cost-effective and abundant materials. This new technique, if scaled up, could have far-reaching implications, from powering homes to electrifying roadways for electric vehicles.

The breakthrough centers around supercapacitors, a simplified form of battery with two electrically conductive plates separated by an ion-conducting electrolyte and a thin membrane. These supercapacitors have a vast energy storage capacity, which depends on the surface area of the conductive plates. 

The challenge was to incorporate supercapacitors into structural materials like concrete, which is used in roads and buildings. Except cement, a primary ingredient in concrete, is not very good at conducting electricity. Previous efforts incorporated graphene and carbon nanotubes into cement but these are expensive and difficult-to-produce forms of carbon. 

The team at MIT sought a more economical alternative and turned to carbon black, a powdered carbon widely used as a black pigment for centuries. Carbon black is cheap, abundant, and highly conductive.

To create cement supercapacitors, the researchers mixed a small percentage of carbon black with cement powder and water. As the cement hardened, the carbon black particles formed interconnected tendrils, essentially acting as a network of wires within the material. The team then cut the wired cement into small plates, creating supercapacitors about the size of a button.

Initial tests with the scaled-down cement supercapacitors showed promising results, lighting up a series of LED lights. According to the researchers, if carbon black cement were used to create the foundation of a standard home, it could store 10 kilowatt-hours of energy, sufficient to power an average household for a day. The same approach could also be applied to construct roads, parking lots, or driveways, allowing electrified concrete to store renewable power and deliver it to electric cars through inductive chargers.

One challenge in scaling up the technology lies in maintaining the electrical conductivity as the supercapacitors get larger. However, the researchers are optimistic and are exploring the addition of more carbon black to the mix without compromising the structural integrity of the cement. The team has patented the technology and is currently working on scaling it up to match the output of a 12-volt car battery.

Beyond the potential benefits for developed countries, the breakthrough could offer affordable energy storage solutions for developing nations. The ability to store renewable power at a lower cost could significantly enhance access to clean energy worldwide.

Information for this story was found via Science Magazine, and the sources and companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.

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