Researchers at the University of Aarhus have shown that cement can hold more than just walls.
By embedding living bacteria in the most common building material in the world, the team has created a super condenser that is able to store electricity. The proof-of-concept material not only contains energy, but can also restore its performance if they are fed with nutrients.
The senior researcher Qi Luo said that they merged the structure with function and generated a material that not only bears weight and stores energy, but can also restore its performance if it is administered nutrients.
Concrete has long been considered lifeless. The Danish team emphasized this idea by adding Shewanella Onidensis, a bacterium that is known for its ability to move electrons outside of its cell.
Once in the cement, the microbes create a network of load carriers that store and release energy.
Early tests suggest that the approach exceeds conventional cement -based storage devices. It is even more noticeable that the cement continues to work after the microbes' death, and researchers can bring it back to life with nutrients.
The discovery shows how building materials could soon play an active role in energy systems. Instead of serving as passive mussels, future walls and foundations could act as protection and storage.
Recoverable power supply system
The microbial activity usually fades when the nutrients go out. To address this, the scientists have integrated a microfluidic system into the cement. It provides proteins, vitamins, salts and growth factors to keep bacteria alive or to revive them.
This approach recovers up to 80% of the original capacity. From a practical point of view, the buildings could become recoverable energy materials and reduce the need to replace batteries or to carry out costly repairs.
The researchers tested the cement even under extreme conditions. It was stored and released in both freezers and hot environments. Six -wired blocks generated enough electricity to light an LED light bulb.
“This is not just a laboratory experiment,” said Luo. “We imagine that this technology is integrated into real buildings, in walls, foundations or bridges, where it can support renewable energy sources such as solar collectors by providing local energy storage.”
He added that even modest performance could have an impact. A room made of the material could save about 10 kWh to supply a standard -enterprise server for a day with electricity.
Infrastructure that cares for itself
With increasing renewable energies, demand for affordable and sustainable storage is growing. Today's batteries depend on scarce resources such as lithium and cobalt and degraded over time.
The cement -based system avoids these problems. It uses plenty, inexpensive materials and naturally occurring bacteria. It also works in a scale that goes far beyond conventional devices.
Although still in an early stage, research indicates a future in which buildings act as separate batteries. This could mean that bridges supply their own sensors or houses with electricity that store the solar energy of the day in their walls.
The results of the team indicate that the next generation of infrastructure could be both structurally and electrical.
Instead of installing batteries, future builders can water them.
The study is published in the journal Cell reports reports physical science.