Living cement: A New Energy Storage Solution

In early lab trials, a team in Denmark transformed common cement into a “living” energy device for use in buildings, walls, and bridges. The material stores power and can regain performance after being fed nutrients, even after periods of dormancy during maintenance cycles. In tests, the device achieved approximately 81 wh per pound.

The research was led by Dr.Qi Luo, a postdoctoral researcher in civil and architectural engineering at aarhus University.His research focuses on low-carbon cement and functional materials that add useful functions to structural elements, both now and at scale.

Energy from Cement

Energy storage typically relies on separate batteries installed outside walls, wired to panels and meters, and requiring annual servicing by dedicated crews. Integrating storage directly into building structures could create buildings that perform dual functions without the need for additional hardware during construction and operation,reducing clutter.

A supercapacitor, a device that stores and releases charge quickly, is well-suited for this submission due to its tolerance for fast cycling and frequent partial charges. This makes it useful for smoothing solar power and powering sensors between grid pulses in small sites, campuses, and remote stations.

Cities experience energy loss when electricity must travel long distances,notably during summer peaks,leading to increased line losses. Local energy storage built into the cement of bridges and walls would keep more energy close to its point of use and reduce peak strain on distribution networks.

How the Material Works

The team utilized electroactive microorganisms – bacteria that transfer electrons to nearby materials – to create a living charge layer within the cement, forming a thin biofilm. The species used is Shewanella oneidensis,a common organism in bioelectric experiments worldwide,often sourced from river and lake sediments.

these microbes perform extracellular electron transfer, a process where proteins transfer electrons to an electrode using small redox molecules and outer membrane sites. Once inside cured cement, they create a redox network that holds charge, rather than acting as an inert filler, representing a significant advancement.

Cement is inherently harsh for living organisms,so the team embedded a microfluidic network – small channels that deliver liquid nutrients – to maintain cell activity. When cells become less active, this network can revive them with a simple nutrient feed.