Human’s energy consumption is on the rise, and thus, we need to find a never ending source of energy. What we can do is we can make giant battery storage devices which will eventually increase the production that can be used to run different machineries, equipment and buildings. To generate power, a lot of manpower and capital is required which will again create an unbalance in the economy. Many countries and industries are working upon how they can generate power efficiently using technology which is out of human boundaries. What if you are being told that we might be able to develop an entire building which can store energy like a giant battery? It sounds amazing, doesn’t it? If this vision turns into reality, it will reshape our future and thanks to the experts, who are constantly updating and developing high-tech inventions.
The concept initially involves a cement-based mixture with small amounts of short carbon fibers added to increase conductivity and flexural strength. A metal-coated carbon fiber mesh is then embedded in the mixture: iron for the anode and nickel for the anode. After much experimentation, this is the prototype that the researchers are now developing. Though, there are few restraints, such as it is not really accurate and many scientists are dis-satisfied by this concept.
Emma Zhang explained that the results from earlier studies investigating concrete battery technology showed very low performance, so they realized they had to come up with another way to produce the electrode. The idea they developed which is also rechargeable has never been explored before. Luping Tang and Emma Zhang's research has produced a rechargeable cement-based battery with an average energy density of 7 Watthours per square meter (or 0.8 Watthours per liter). Energy density is used to express the capacity of the battery, and a modest estimate is that the performance of the new Chalmers battery could be more than ten times that of earlier attempts at concrete batteries.
