BUILDINGS THAT WILL PRODUCE THEIR OWN ENERGY? NEW TYPE OF CEMENT CONVERTS HEAT INTO ELECTRICITY AND STORE IT
Researchers have created a cement-based material that is unlike any other product, as it can not only provide structural support but also generate and store electricity. The discovery could be a benchmark for infrastructure in smart cities of the future.
According to a report by Eris Driva on economix.gr, the material is a cement-hydrogel composite developed by the research team led by Professor Zhou Yang at Southeast University in China. The team was inspired by the layered structure inside plant stems to create a material that can harness thermal energy and convert it into electricity. Cement has a natural ability to generate electricity through what’s called the ionic thermoelectric effect. But this effect has always been too weak to be practical, mainly because the dense composition of cement limits how quickly ions can move through it.
“The disparity in the diffusion rate between cations and anions within the cement pore solution due to fluctuations in interactions with the pore walls endows the cement with intrinsic ionic thermoelectric properties,” the researchers said, according to Interestingengineering.com. “However, the isolation of the pores by the dense composition of the cement prevents the rapid transport of ions at higher diffusion rates, preventing the enhancement of the mobility difference between the ions.”
To address this problem, the research team constructed a multilayer structure where there is an alternation between traditional cement and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel layers. The hydrogel layers serve as fast pathways for hydroxide ions (OH-), while the interfaces between cement and hydrogel are designed to bind strongly to calcium ions (Ca²+) and more weakly to OH-. This imbalance contributes to increasing the thermoelectric effect by accelerating the movement of certain ions and creating a greater difference in mobility.
Smart structures with built-in power
What makes the new material particularly promising is that it doesn’t just generate electricity, it also stores it. Its unique multilayer architecture gives it both strong mechanical properties and built-in energy storage capabilities. This means that buildings, roads and bridges made with this material could one day power sensors and wireless communication systems embedded directly into the structure. The researchers explained that the multilayer structure of CPC creates numerous interfaces, offering many interaction sites that enhance the role of cement ions in enhancing thermoelectric performance. The new product could transform the future of construction. Imagine sidewalks that power streetlights, or bridges that monitor their own structural health without external energy sources. As cities grow and smart technologies increase, materials like this cement-hydrogel composite offer a glimpse into a more efficient and sustainable urban future.