MIT researchers built small supercapacitors from cement, water and conductive carbon black, showing that cement-based material can store and release electrical charge. Their estimates suggest larger structures might offer useful storage, but the concept still needs testing for strength, durability, safety and performance at scale.
TLDR: MIT researchers demonstrated small supercapacitors made from cement, water and carbon black. The material’s connected carbon network conducts charge, and the team estimated a cubic meter might store about 10 kilowatt-hours. That is a projection, not a building-scale result; durability, strength, safety and practical performance remain to be tested.
A team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has demonstrated a way to make cement store electrical energy. The researchers mixed cement, water and a small amount of carbon black, a form of conductive carbon, to create an electrically conductive material. In a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2023, they described building small supercapacitors from the mixture. The concept could eventually let foundations, walls or roads store energy, although the work remains at an early laboratory stage and does not yet demonstrate a building-scale system.
The key is the network that forms as cement hardens. Water reacts with the cement, leaving pores and channels; carbon black particles gather into branching paths through that structure. Once those paths connect, they can carry electrical charge across the material. The team found that a relatively small share of carbon black—about three percent of the volume in the tested mixture—could produce a connected network. The approach relies on ordinary, widely available ingredients, but getting a useful balance of conductivity and strength is essential.
A supercapacitor stores energy differently from a battery. Rather than relying mainly on chemical reactions, it holds electrical charge at the interface between electrodes and an electrolyte. The MIT prototypes used two carbon-cement electrodes with a thin insulating layer between them, plus an electrolyte solution. When connected to a power source, ions in the electrolyte move toward the oppositely charged electrodes. The device can then release that stored charge when needed. Supercapacitors can charge and discharge quickly and tolerate many cycles, but generally store less energy per unit of weight than batteries.
In laboratory tests, small devices could power an LED, demonstrating that the material was doing more than simply conducting electricity. The researchers also used the measurements to estimate what larger structures might store. They calculated that a block of the material one cubic meter in volume could hold roughly 10 kilowatt-hours of energy—around a day’s electricity use for an average household in the United States, depending on consumption. That figure is a projection based on the tested material, not a measurement from a full-size block or a working home.
The prospect is attractive because cement is already used at enormous scale in buildings and infrastructure. If structural elements could perform a second job as storage, they might help smooth fluctuations in electricity from solar panels and wind turbines. Their output could complement, rather than replace, battery storage near the point of generation. A building could potentially hold some power generated on its roof, while a road or foundation might contribute to a larger storage network. Such uses would require electrical connections, controls and safety systems, as well as proof that the material performs reliably under real loads and weather.
Important trade-offs remain. Adding conductive carbon can change cement’s mechanical properties, and any practical design must meet engineering standards for strength, durability and fire safety. Researchers also need to test how the material behaves over long periods, how much energy it can deliver at useful rates, and whether electrolyte leakage or environmental exposure affects performance. The MIT team has explored designs for larger energy-storing structures, but those concepts are not yet deployed technology. Further work will determine whether the material can scale economically and whether its storage benefit justifies changes to construction. For now, the result is a laboratory proof of principle that points toward infrastructure with a potential role in balancing renewable power.
Mark Davis serves as the Senior Correspondent for Energy, Climate, and Resource Economics at Just Right News. In an era where the conversation around the environment is often dominated by alarmism and top-down mandates, Mark provides a vital, market-oriented perspective on the complex forces shaping our world. As the lead voice behind the acclaimed feature series “Power and the Planet,” he explores the intersection of environmental policy, global energy markets, and the fundamental economic principles that sustain modern civilization.
Mark’s pragmatic approach to resource management was forged in the high desert of his hometown, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Growing up in a region defined by both its breathtaking natural beauty and its rugged, resource-dependent landscape, he developed an early appreciation for the delicate balance between conservation and utilization. New Mexico’s unique position as a hub for both traditional energy production and cutting-edge scientific research provided Mark with a front-row seat to the evolution of the American energy sector. This upbringing instilled in him a deep-seated belief that true environmental stewardship is inseparable from economic prosperity and technological innovation.
Now based in Boulder, Colorado, Mark operates from the heart of the nation’s climate research community. While Boulder is often seen as a bastion of environmental idealism, Mark utilizes his post to provide a necessary counterweight, grounded in the realities of resource economics. He understands that energy policy does not exist in a vacuum; it has tangible consequences for the American taxpayer, the stability of the national power grid, and the strength of the domestic manufacturing sector. By reporting from the front lines of the climate debate, he is able to challenge prevailing narratives with hard data and a commitment to the principles of the free market.
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In “Power and the Planet,” Mark continues to bridge the gap between complex scientific concepts and the economic realities facing the country. He rejects the false choice between a healthy environment and a thriving economy, instead seeking out solutions that leverage American ingenuity and private-sector competition. For Mark, reporting on the climate is not about following the latest trends, but about ensuring that the conversation remains tethered to the foundational values of liberty, property rights, and fiscal responsibility. His contributions ensure that Just Right News readers receive a comprehensive, clear-eyed view of the challenges and opportunities defining the future of our planet.