Energy Revolution: 10 Times More Energy Can Be Stored Than Carbon Capacitors

                                            

Concrete Arch Battery 

        

Energy Revolution: Scientists Invent Concrete That Turns into Giant Batteries

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a new type of concrete capable of storing energy, opening the door to transforming walls, sidewalks, and bridges into giant batteries.

The new concrete, dubbed "ec³" (short for Electron-Conducting Carbon Concrete), consists of a mixture of cement, water, ultrafine carbon black, and electrolytes, forming an electrically conductive nano-mesh within the concrete. This network allows the concrete to store and release energy, making it a key component of the future of renewable energy, according to MIT News.

In 2023, approximately 45 cubic meters of this concrete would be needed to store enough energy for a home for one day, equivalent to the volume of a conventional basement. Today, thanks to improvements in electrolyte composition and manufacturing methods, this volume has been reduced to just 5 cubic meters, about the size of a basement wall.

 “Concrete is the most widely used building material in the world,” said Professor Admir Masic, lead author of the study and co-director of the EC³ Center at MIT. “Why not leverage this ubiquity to offer additional functions such as energy storage, self-healing, or even carbon capture?”

Secrets of the Nanonetwork

To understand how this concrete works, the researchers used an advanced imaging technique called FIB-SEM tomography, where fine layers of the material were sculpted and imaged with a high-resolution electron microscope. The results revealed a complex nanonetwork resembling “fractals” surrounding the pores within the concrete, allowing electrolytes to penetrate and allow electrical current to flow.

 This deep understanding led the team to experiment with different types of electrolytes, including seawater, opening the way for concrete to be used in coastal environments, such as the bases of offshore wind turbines.

Amazing Performance... and a Light Bulb That Lights a Concrete Arc

Using organic electrolytes containing quaternary ammonium salts and acetonitrile, researchers were able to store more than 2 kilowatt-hours of energy in a single cubic meter of concrete—enough to power a refrigerator for an entire day.

To demonstrate the concept, the team built a small arch of ec³ concrete capable of supporting its own weight and powering a 9-volt LED. When the load on the arch increased, the light began to flash, suggesting the concrete could be used as a self-contained sensor to monitor structural stresses in buildings.

Limitless Applications

The new concrete has already proven its effectiveness in heating sidewalks in the Japanese city of Sapporo, thanks to its thermal properties. The researchers hope to use it in the future in parking lots and roads to charge electric cars, or even in building homes that operate entirely off-grid. 

"One of our biggest motivations is to facilitate the transition to renewable energy," says researcher Damian Stefanieuk. "The sun doesn't always shine, so we need flexible and secure storage solutions."

"Conventional batteries rely on rare or harmful materials. ec³ offers a sustainable alternative that can be integrated directly into infrastructure," adds Professor Franz-Josef Ulm, co-director of the EC³ Center. 

Researcher James Weaver, a co-author of the study, added: "We've combined modern nanoscience with one of the oldest building materials in history, enabling the development of infrastructure that not only supports our lives but also powers them."