MIT EC³ Hub
The researchers achieved this advancement by using high-resolution 3D imaging to learn more about how the conductive carbon network – essentially, the electrodes – works and interacts with electrolytes. Armed with their new understanding, the team experimented with different electrolytes and their concentrations. “We found that there is a wide range of electrolytes that could be viable candidates for EC3,” says Damian Stefaniuk, a research scientist at MIT Electron-Conducting Carbon-Cement-Based Materials HubUnder the leadership of Associate Professor Admir Mesic. “It also contains seawater, which could make it a good material for use in coastal and marine applications, perhaps as support structures for offshore wind farms.”
Additionally, the team streamlined the way electrolytes are added to the mixture, making it possible to insert thicker electrodes that store more energy.
While E.C.3 Does not compete with conventional batteries in energy density, in principle it can be incorporated directly into architectural elements and last as long as the structure. To show how structural form and energy storage can work together, the team built a miniature arch that supported its own weight and additional load while providing power to an LED light.
