It seems that adding a few more ingredients to the standard cement recipe could yield astounding results for energy storage.
That's because researchers from Sweden's Chalmers University of Technology are developing a way to turn the most common building material in the world (per the Royal Society of Chemistry's magazine) into batteries.
The concept could change the way we power our homes and buildings as well as help to offset the widely reported estimate of 8% of global air pollution that comes from cement production. That could mean cleaner air and healthier minds and bodies, as pollution has been linked to increased dementia and stroke risk.
"We have a vision that in the future this technology could allow for whole sections of multi-story buildings made of functional concrete," Emma Zhang, a researcher involved with the project, said in a Chalmers summary of the work.
To start, the scientists added "small amounts" of carbon fibers to the recipe for their cement. This added conductivity and strength to the mix. A "metal-coated carbon fiber mesh" was also included, using iron for an anode and nickel for a cathode, according to Chalmers.
At this point, the components list sounds like one needed for standard battery chemistry. In fact, a graphic shared by Popular Mechanics shows a slice perspective of the concrete, detailing the two electrodes and an electrolyte interlayer — all essential parts.
It looks sort of like a sandwich, with conductive cement as the slices of bread. Iron- and nickel-coated mesh runs through it, serving as the electrodes. The middle — or peanut butter and jelly, to continue the sandwich analogy — is the electrolyte.
The concrete made with this recipe produces a material that can be recharged, a big win. While the amount of energy the concrete can store in relation to its mass isn't as much as that of traditional batteries, the Chalmers report said it's up to 10 times better than other concrete battery concepts.
Fortunately, large buildings offer plenty of mass, helping to lower energy density. The experts envision the concrete power source energizing LEDs, internet connections, and other basic office functions.
"It could also be coupled with solar cell panels for example, to provide electricity and become the energy source for monitoring systems in highways or bridges, where sensors operated by a concrete battery could detect cracking or corrosion," Zhang said.
The team ran its invention through six charge-discharge cycles as it perfected the mix.
Meanwhile, experts stateside are working on their own concrete recipe, geared to create an energy storage solution. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are using cement, water, and a substance called carbon black to essentially turn home foundations into batteries.
These inventions have fascinating potential for the future. Imagine buildings with structural components that serve as power supplies, recharged by renewable energy.
The Chalmers team acknowledged in the summary that their experimental mix needs more testing before it can be commercialized.
"We are convinced this concept makes for a great contribution to allowing future building materials to have additional functions such as renewable energy sources," researcher Luping Tang said.
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