A new cement-hydrogel material can generate and store electricity for smart infrastructure. (Representational image)
Researchers have created a cement-based material that does more than just provide structural support—it can generate and store electricity. This breakthrough could mark a turning point for future infrastructure in smart cities.
The material is a cement-hydrogel composite developed by a team led by Professor Zhou Yang at Southeast University in China. The team took inspiration from the layered structure inside plant stems to create a material that can harness thermal energy and convert it into electricity.
This new cement material achieves a Seebeck coefficient of −40.5 mV/K and a figure of merit (ZT) of 6.6×10⁻². These values are ten and six times higher, respectively, than what has been recorded with previous cement-based thermoelectric materials.
At this year’s SynBioBeta: The Global Synthetic Biology Conference, a session titled “Conquering Carbon Emissions From the Concrete Industry” will address ongoing challenges in reducing concrete-related emissions. The discussion will highlight how bioengineered materials, such as the newly developed cement composite, could play a pivotal role in advancing sustainable construction.
Tackling cement’s limitations with hydrogel layers
Cement has a natural ability to generate electricity through what is called the ionic thermoelectric effect. But this effect has always been too weak to be practical. That’s because the dense cement matrix limits how quickly ions can move through it.
“The disparity in diffusion rate between cations and anions within cement pore solution due to variations in interactions with pore walls endows cement with inherent ionic thermoelectric properties,” the researchers stated.
“However, the isolation of pores by the dense cement matrix hinders the rapid transportation of ions with superior diffusion rates, impeding the enhancement of mobility difference between ions and limiting the enhancement of Seebeck coefficient.”
To solve this, the research team built a multilayered structure. It alternates between traditional cement and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel layers. This design solves the ion mobility problem in a clever way.
The hydrogel layers serve as fast pathways for hydroxide ions (OH⁻), while the interfaces between cement and hydrogel are engineered to strongly bond with calcium ions (Ca²⁺) and more weakly with OH⁻. This imbalance helps increase the thermoelectric effect by speeding up the movement of certain ions and creating more difference in mobility.
Bio-inspired design of cement-hydrogel thermoelectric composite . [Science China Press]
Smart structures with built-in power
What makes this material especially promising is that it doesn’t just generate electricity—it also stores it. The unique multilayered architecture gives it both strong mechanical properties and built-in energy storage capabilities. That means 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 CPC’s multilayer structure creates numerous interfaces, offering plenty of interaction sites that enhance the role of cement ions in boosting thermoelectric performance.
“The biomimetic structure and interfacial selective immobilization mechanism may pave the way for the design and fabrication of high-performance ionic thermoelectric materials,” they added.
This breakthrough could transform the future of construction. Imagine sidewalks that power streetlights, or bridges that monitor their own structural health without external power sources. With cities growing and smart technologies on the rise, materials like this cement-hydrogel composite offer a glimpse of a more efficient and sustainable urban future.
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The research was recently published in the journal Science Bulletin.
Sujita Sinha A versatile writer, Sujita has worked with Mashable Middle East and News Daily 24. When she isn't writing, you can find her glued to the latest web series and movies.
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