Electrifying: New cement makes concrete generate electricity

electric cement

subscribe

SEOUL -

Engineers from South Korea have invented a cement-based composite that can be used in concrete to make structures that generate and store electricity through exposure to external mechanical energy sources like footsteps, wind, rain and waves.

By turning structures into power sources, the cement will crack the problem of the built environment consuming 40% of the world’s energy, they believe.

Building users need not worry about getting electrocuted. Tests showed that a 1% volume of conductive carbon fibres in a cement mixture was enough to give the cement the desired electrical properties without compromising structural performance, and the current generated was far lower than the maximum allowable level for the human body.

Researchers in mechanical and civil engineering from from Incheon National University, Kyung Hee University and Korea University developed a cement-based conductive composite (CBC) with carbon fibres that can also act as a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), a type of mechanical energy harvester.

They designed a lab-scale structure and a CBC-based capacitor using the developed material to test its energy harvesting and storage capabilities.

“We wanted to develop a structural energy material that could be used to build net-zero energy structures that use and produce their own electricity,” said Seung-Jung Lee, a professor in Incheon National University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

“Since cement is an indispensable construction material, we decided to use it with conductive fillers as the core conductive element for our CBC-TENG system,” he added.

The results of their research were published this month in the journal Nano Energy.

Apart from energy storage and harvesting, the material could also be used to design self-sensing systems that monitor the structural health and predict the remaining service life of concrete structures without any external power.

“Our ultimate goal was to develop materials that made the lives of people better and did not need any extra energy to save the planet. And we expect that the findings from this study can be used to expand the applicability of CBC as an all-in-one energy material for net-zero energy structures,” said Prof. Lee.

Publicising the research, Incheon National University quipped: “Seems like a jolting start to a brighter and greener tomorrow!”

Related News

washington-state-ev-rebate-program

Washington State's Electric Vehicle Rebate Program

WASHINGTON DC - Washington State has reached a significant milestone in its electric vehicle (EV) rebate program, with more than half of the allocated funding already utilized. This rapid uptake highlights the growing interest in electric vehicles as residents seek more sustainable transportation options. As the state continues to prioritize environmental initiatives, this development showcases both the successes and challenges of promoting electric vehicle adoption.

A Growing Demand for Electric Vehicles

The substantial drawdown of rebate funds indicates a robust demand for electric vehicles in Washington. As consumers become increasingly aware of the environmental benefits associated with EVs—such as reduced…

READ MORE
ontario-clean-electricity-regulations

Ontario's Clean Electricity Regulations: Paving the Way for a Greener Future

READ MORE

atco electric

ATCO Electric agrees to $31 million penalty following regulator's investigation

READ MORE

Hydro One CEO's $4.5M salary Point of Controversy

Hydro One CEO's $4.5M salary won't be reduced to help cut electricity costs

READ MORE

wendy holm

Opponent of Site C dam sharing concerns with northerners

READ MORE