Cement based battery
An idea for a rechargeable cement based battery has been created at the Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden. One day, this technology may be able to transform a whole building into a gigantic energy storage device similar to a large battery. Because cement is one of the most widely used building materials on the planet, the technology offers some intriguing implications.
Carbon Fibres to be Used
The idea is to use a cement based battery combination with modest amounts of short carbon fibers to improve the material’s conductivity and flexural toughness. A metal-coated carbon-fiber mesh with iron for the anode and nickel for the cathode is also inserted into the cement mixture. Concrete batteries have been examined in the past, but their performance was poor.
Chalmers researchers had to devise a new method of producing the electrode. They came up with the notion for a rechargeable system by combining two previously unexplored concepts. The average energy density of the cement-based battery is seven watthours per square metre, which is ten times higher than prior concrete batteries.
Energy Density is Low
In comparison to commercial batteries, the energy density is still quite low in cement based batteries, according to the researchers. Nonetheless, they believe that this limitation can be overcome because of the enormous volume that the battery can provide when utilized to build structures. The advantages of having a large multistory building that functions as a big battery are obvious, including the ability to power interior illumination, provide cellular coverage in remote regions, and meet a variety of other power requirements.
Lot of Research to be Done
Scientists working on the project are quick to point out that the concept is still in its infancy. Before the cement based battery can become a reality, a number of fundamental problems must be answered, with one of the most significant hurdles being increasing the battery’s service life and establishing recycling processes.
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