Instead of adding batteries to buildings in order to turn them into virtual power plants, what if we could use the building itself to store electricity? That is the thinking behind research at the University of Lancaster in the UK that has come up with a “smart cement” that is able to cost effectively store solar generated electricity for use whenever it may be needed. Made from flyash and chemical solutions, the novel potassium-geopolymetric (KGP) composites are cheaper than Ordinary Portland Cement, which is currently the most widely used construction material. They are easy to produce and, because conductivity is achieved by potassium ions hopping through the crystalline structure, it does not need any complex or expensive additives. The research team, lead by Professor Mohamed Saafi, created KGP composites by relying on the diffusion of potassium ions within the structure to store electrical energy and to sense mechanical stresses. When fully optimised, KGP “smart cement” […]