ScienceDaily: Cement, Carbon Black, and Water Combination: A Potential Solution for Affordable and Expandable Energy Storage in Renewable Sources

Two of humanity’s most widely used materials, cement and carbon black, could potentially be used to create a cost-effective energy storage system, according to a recent study. This technology could allow for greater use of renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and tidal power by ensuring stable energy networks, even when there are fluctuations in renewable energy supply. Researchers have discovered that combining these two materials with water can create a supercapacitor, an alternative to traditional batteries, capable of storing electrical energy. For example, the team from MIT has proposed incorporating the supercapacitor into the concrete foundation of a house, where it can store a day’s worth of energy without significantly adding to the cost or compromising the structural strength of the foundation. They also envision using a concrete roadway that can wirelessly recharge electric cars as they drive over it. The innovative technology is described in a forthcoming paper by MIT professors Franz-Josef Ulm, Admir Masic, and Yang-Shao Horn, and four other researchers from MIT and the Wyss Institute. The researchers explain that capacitors are relatively simple devices consisting of two conductive plates separated by an electrolyte, which creates an electric field when a voltage is applied. Supercapacitors are capacitors capable of storing larger charges, and their storage capacity depends on the surface area of the conductive plates. The breakthrough with the new supercapacitors lies in using a cement-based material with an extremely high internal surface area thanks to a network of conductive carbon black within it. The researchers achieved this by adding carbon black, which is highly conductive, to a concrete mixture along with cement powder and water, and allowing it to cure. The water forms openings within the structure as it reacts with cement, and the carbon black migrates into these spaces to create wire-like structures. These structures have a fractal-like pattern with large, medium, and small branches, providing a large surface area within a small volume. The material is then soaked in an electrolyte material, such as potassium chloride, which provides charged particles that accumulate on the carbon structures. Two electrodes made of this material, separated by a thin space or an insulating layer, create a powerful supercapacitor. The researchers believe that these supercapacitors have the potential to support the transition to renewable energy, as they can store energy from wind, solar, and tidal power sources, which often produce energy at variable times that don’t align with peak usage times. The researchers calculated that a block of nanocarbon-black-doped concrete measuring 45 cubic meters could store about 10 kilowatt-hours of energy, equivalent to the average daily electricity usage for a household. The material is inexpensive, easily reproducible, and widely available worldwide. Furthermore, the supercapacitors can be charged and discharged rapidly. The researchers have successfully demonstrated the technology by creating small supercapacitors that can power a 3-volt LED. They plan to build larger versions to further validate the concept. One potential application is using carbon-cement supercapacitors in concrete roadways to store energy from solar panels alongside the road, which can then be used to power electric vehicles wirelessly. The system is scalable, and its energy-storage capacity depends on the volume of the electrodes. The researchers believe the technology has multiple functions and can be adjusted for various applications by modifying the mixture. It could be used for isolated homes or buildings powered by solar panels attached to the cement supercapacitors. Ultimately, the researchers hope this technology can provide a cheaper alternative to existing energy storage systems and help facilitate the widespread adoption of renewable energy.

FOLLOW US ON GOOGLE NEWS

Read original article here