Portuguese 
Spanish 
5 min of reading 
1 comment 
MIT Researchers Create Conductive Concrete That Combines Nanocarbon And Electrolytes, Capable Of Storing Energy And Powering Structures Like Walls, Sidewalks And Bridges.
The concrete, a material that has supported buildings and bridges for centuries, is about to change its function: in addition to structuring the physical world, it can also store and release electrical energy.
A team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) developed ec³ — short for Electron-Conducting Carbon-Cement-Based Materials — a mixture of cement, water, nanoscale carbon black, and electrolytes capable of creating an internal conductive network. This “nano-network” allows regular concrete structures to function as true batteries.
Concrete That Stores Energy
According to a new study published in the journal PNAS, the researchers optimized the electrolytes and manufacturing processes, increasing the storage capacity of energy of the ec³ supercapacitors by ten times. In 2023, a volume of 45 cubic meters would be needed to meet the daily consumption of an average home.
-
Inspired by the armadillo, scientists create new technology that changes shape on its own to protect electronics against impacts and physical damage.
-
Capable of storing up to five times more carbon than terrestrial forests and protecting millions of people against tsunamis and storms, the planet’s mangroves are reemerging after decades of destruction and surprising scientists with their impressive natural regeneration capacity.
-
Engine without traditional cylinder head could change the future of hybrids: Aramco creates DHE technology that simplifies mechanics, promises to reduce consumption by up to 25%, and challenges decades of evolution in combustion engines.
-
Machine revolution failed and robot seen begging on the street: humanoid kneeling with bowl, backpack, and QR code goes viral in 11-second video as narration says there was no money to recharge the battery.
Now, with the new formulation, the same task requires only 5 cubic meters — the equivalent of the volume of a basement wall.
“Concrete is already the most widely used building material in the world. So why not take advantage of that scale to create other benefits?” asks Admir Masic, the lead author of the study and co-director of the MIT EC³ Hub. According to him, the concept of “multifunctional concrete” integrates functions such as energy storage, self-repair, and carbon sequestration.
Discovering The Conductive Network
The significant improvement came from a detailed understanding of how the black nanocarbon network functions within the ec³. To achieve this, the researchers employed an advanced technique called FIB-SEM tomography, which combines ion beams and electron microscopy to map the material layer by layer.
This approach revealed that the conductive network forms a kind of “fractal web” that envelops the pores of the concrete, allowing electrolyte circulation and efficient electric current conduction.
“Understanding how these materials assemble at the nanoscale is crucial to achieving these new functionalities,” explains Masic.
Based on these findings, the team tested different types and concentrations of electrolytes to optimize energy density. Researcher Damian Stefaniuk, the first author of the article, states that even seawater can serve as an electrolyte, making the ec³ ideal for coastal applications and marine structures, such as foundations for offshore wind farms.
Simplification Of Production And Organic Electrolytes
Another innovation was the simplification of the manufacturing process. Previously, concrete electrodes needed to be cured before being soaked in electrolytes. Now, the electrolyte is added directly to the mixing water, eliminating that step.
As a result, the material can be cast into thicker blocks, capable of storing more energy.
Greater efficiency came with the use of organic electrolytes made from quaternary ammonium salts and acetonitrile, substances commonly found in industry and everyday products. One cubic meter of this new version of ec³ — roughly the size of a refrigerator — can store over 2 kilowatt-hours, enough energy to power a real refrigerator for a day.
Structural Applications And Durability
Although conventional batteries still have superior energy density, ec³ has the advantage of being able to be directly incorporated into structural elements — such as walls, domes, vaults, and slabs — with the same durability as regular concrete.
This feature opens the possibility of transforming entire infrastructures into distributed energy storage systems.
Inspired by Roman architecture, the MIT team built a miniature arch made of ec³ that supported weight and powered a LED light operating at 9 volts.
When the arch experienced increased load, the light flickered, indicating that the material can respond to structural stresses. “There may be a capacity for self-monitoring here,” says Masic. At full scale, this would allow for the identification of vibrations or deformations in bridges and buildings in real time.
Scalability And Practical Uses
The researchers believe that ec³ is increasingly close to practical applications. The material has already been used in heated sidewalk slabs in Sapporo, Japan, leveraging its conductive thermal properties as an alternative to using salt to melt snow. For Stefaniuk, recent advances turn ec³ into a powerful and flexible tool to tackle modern energy challenges.
The central motivation, according to him, is to facilitate the transition to renewable energy. Sources like solar are intermittent — producing energy only during the day or under ideal conditions — which requires efficient storage systems. “With ec³, we will be able to store this energy in the very structures we have already built,” he explains.
Concrete As A Substitute For Traditional Batteries
The co-director of the EC³ Hub, Franz-Josef Ulm, emphasizes that the global challenge is precisely to store energy in a clean and safe manner. “Conventional batteries rely on scarce or harmful materials. Ec³ could be a viable alternative, allowing buildings and roads to become integrated storage systems,” he affirms.
Among the applications under study are parking spots and roads capable of charging electric vehicles, as well as self-sufficient homes that operate entirely off the power grid.
According to scientists, this could create cities with energy-smart infrastructures, where concrete not only supports but also fuels everyday life.
A Revolution Inspired By Antiquity
For James Weaver, a co-author of the paper and an associate professor at Cornell University, the most impressive aspect is that the project bridges the past and the future. “We took a material as ancient as concrete and showed that it can do something completely new,” he summarizes.
Weaver believes that the fusion of modern nanoscience and traditional engineering paves the way for a new era of construction, where every building could act as a silent power plant. “By merging materials science with architectural vision, we may be on the brink of a structural revolution.”
The comparison to the Romans, made by Masic, reinforces this point: just as the Pantheon has stood for centuries thanks to innovation in concrete mixing, modern buildings can endure and contribute to global sustainability.
Ec³ represents, therefore, not only a technological advance but a deep conceptual change — transforming the most used material on the planet into an active element in energy production and storage.
Energy At The Heart Of Cities
The development of ec³ signals a transition to a living and energetic infrastructure, where concrete ceases to be merely a physical support and becomes an integral part of the urban electrical matrix.
With increasingly higher energy density, proven durability, and the potential for direct integration into architecture, electron-conducting concrete offers an unprecedented response to a global dilemma: how to store energy sustainably, affordably, and at scale.
For MIT researchers, the potential is limitless. One day, walls, bridges, and sidewalks may not only support cities but keep them lit — literally.
Very helpful explanation — I learned several useful techniques.