Researchers 3D-Print Cement Supercapacitors for Structural Energy Storage
By depositing conductive carbon-cement ink onto concrete slabs, researchers demonstrate energy-storing building materials with the compressive strength of commercial concrete.
Researchers have developed an efficient cement-based supercapacitor that embeds electrical energy storage directly into concrete, matching the structural strength of commercial construction materials while powering small electronic devices, according to a study published in ACS Nano and reported by TechXplore.
Supercapacitors store lower overall energy volumes than chemical batteries but charge and discharge rapidly over millions of cycles. By incorporating energy storage directly into foundational structural materials, buildings could capture and store localized power—such as rooftop solar generation—within walls and slabs rather than relying exclusively on dedicated battery rooms or external utility arrays.
To fabricate the device, corresponding author Zhong and co-researchers Wencai Ren and Haiping Wu mixed carbon nanotubes, carbon black, and cement to create a printable electrode ink. Using a 3D printer, the team deposited the ink onto a concrete slab in an interlocking, interdigitated finger pattern.
As the surrounding cement in the slab hydrated, microscopic pores filled with water and conductive ions that traveled between the printed electrodes. The interdigitated design shortened the transit distance for charged ions, increasing operational efficiency compared to previous structural supercapacitor iterations.
Mechanical testing indicated that the cement-based device retained compressive strength comparable to commercial concrete used in standard structural slabs and stairs. In an electrical demonstration, the researchers connected three supercapacitors printed on a single slab to power an array of light-emitting diodes.
"If renewable energy is available to recharge [the supercapacitors] frequently enough, they could meet some energy needs through repeated charging and discharging," Zhong said. Potential applications include distributed structural sensors and emergency lighting.
The device maintained stable performance under moderate heating and cooling, though its energy output began to degrade at approximately 0 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 18 degrees Celsius). The team plans to focus future research on improving performance in freezing conditions.
Zhong noted that expanding building components into active electrical systems could change structural engineering: "If building materials could not only support structures but also store energy, sense their surroundings and even interact with people, buildings would become more than passive shelters. They could become truly smart environments."
Sources
Written by
The Company Wire
Inside the companies building what’s next. Reporting on startups, technology, funding and the people shaping them.
