Concrete-based energy storage: exploring electrode and electrolyte enhancements

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Civil Engineering

Background:

• Growing demand for zero-carbon emissions and renewable energy necessitates advanced energy storage solutions.
• Structural supercapacitors, integrating energy storage with mechanical load-bearing, are a key research focus.
• Concrete's durability, availability, and low environmental impact make it a promising material for multifunctional building components.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review concrete-based energy storage devices.
• To elucidate concrete's role as a structural material and energy storage component.
• To categorize and describe concrete's application as electrode and electrolyte materials in supercapacitors.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on concrete-based energy storage.
• Categorization of concrete into supercapacitor electrode and electrolyte components.
• Analysis of synthesis methods for concrete-based electrodes and electrolytes, including material enhancements.

Main Results:

• Concrete composites can be designed as intrinsically strong structural materials.
• Concrete can serve as both electrode and electrolyte materials in supercapacitors.
• Incorporation of carbon, polymers, and metals enhances electrode performance; additions to concrete electrolytes improve ionic conductivity.

Conclusions:

• Concrete-based energy storage devices offer a sustainable and multifunctional approach to building solutions.
• Further research is needed to optimize concrete-based supercapacitors for enhanced energy density and ionic conductivity.
• Future directions include addressing challenges in synthesis and performance for practical applications.