MIT Scientists Develop Concrete That Stores Electricity Like a Power Bank

Until now, concrete was limited to the construction of buildings, roads, and bridges, but scientists have given it a new form for storing energy. Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, known as MIT, have developed a special kind of electron-conducting concrete that can store energy like a power bank. This concrete can, in the future, be used for converting walls, sidewalks, and even bridges into giant batteries for the storage of electricity.

Such concrete is made up of cement, water, ultra-fine carbon black, and electrolytes, and it is referred to as ec3 concrete. A network is created on the nano-scale within the concrete, and this network can conduct electricity. The concrete can store energy and release it when it is required.

Within their study, they found that ec3 can be used with different electrolytes, such as seawater, making it an extremely useful technology for projects such as marine environments and wind farms.

The best results were achieved using organic electrolytes. One cubic meter of concrete produced using this technology, a volume roughly the size of a refrigerator, can store more than 2 kilowatt-hours of energy. This is enough to run a refrigerator for an entire day.

Although traditional batteries have higher energy capacity, ec3 can be incorporated directly into buildings and last for the entire life of the structure. It also doesn't use rare or hazardous materials, making it environmentally safe.

The MIT team is working on extending this technology to parking spaces, roads, and homes. The future could include roads that charge electric vehicles, and homes that can operate completely off-grid.

Researchers say that by combining modern nanoscience with the same thinking that keeps ancient Roman buildings standing strong today, the foundations of a new architectural revolution could be laid. This concrete will not only support buildings but also provide them with energy.