Prof. Franz-Josef Ulm (MIT, USA) will present in his talk the future role of cementitous materials for the energy transition:
"If it’s Magic*... Carbon-cement supercapacitors as a scalable bulk energy storage solution for the energy transition“.

The presentation will be held on November 6th, 2023 at 2pm at the ZEMOS Building at Ruhr University Bochum. Interested persons are cordially invited to attend!

Abstract:
If you mix cement, carbon black with water, the magic of chemistry generates an electron conductive volumetric wire, which permeates a load-bearing cementbased matrix. Herein we discuss how this magic of chemistry comes about when hydrophilic cement reacts with water in the presence of hydrophobic carbon black within the alkaline environment of cement hydration. We show how such electronconductive cement-based materials can be used to build a scalable supercapacitor technology for energy storage, which everyone can build into their homes and roads. Possible applications include the energy autarkic home, selfcharging roads (by electromagnetic induction) and intermittent energy storage for wind energy and tidal waves. Availability of cement and carbon black makes this technology a good candidate for the urgently needed energy transition from fossil fuel to renewable energies; and puts us, Scientists and Engineers, in the driver seat of making the energy transition happen in a socially just way: brick-by-brick, road-by-road for all.

Picture: © MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub

https://cshub.mit.edu/

2023_11_06_Seminar_Ulm_CSaS.pdf