81. Concrete "Battery": Pioneering the Future of Energy Storage

This week, we delve into the innovative realm of electron-conducting carbon concrete (EC^3), a revolutionary material that marries the structural capabilities of traditional concrete with advanced energy storage functions. This next-generation concrete employs a unique blend of hydrophobic nano-carbons, binder, aggregate, and water, resulting in electron-conducting carbon network within the cement matrix. The EC^3 technology not only mitigates CO2 emissions typically associated with conventional battery and concrete production but also repurposes carbon black, a prevalent byproduct from, e.g., hydrogen production, thus contributing to a circular economy. The presentation will showcase the practical applications of EC^3, from powering small electronic devices to its potential in large-scale energy storage solutions. We will highlight its crucial electro-chemical properties and explore its future applications. By integrating energy storage directly into construction materials, EC^3 technology paves the way for energy-autarkic shelters, self-charging roads, and more resilient power grids, fundamentally transforming how we approach sustainable construction and energy management. Dr. Damian Stefaniuk serves as a Research Scientist within the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub (CSHub), and the MIT Electron-conductive Cement-based Materials Hub (EC^3 Hub). He is a structural and materials engineering scientist specializing in the development of sustainable construction materials and structures. In his research he focuses on science-enabled engineering of sustainable cement-based materials, with applications ranging from designing corrosion-resistant prestressed bridge structures to exploring chemically induced pre-cure carbonation for carbon storage and developing electron-conductive carbon concrete for renewable energy storage. The overall goal of his research is to make civil engineering infrastructure part of the solution of the urgently needed energy transition while mitigating greenhouse gas emissions associated with cement production.