00:00What if the concrete around you could store electricity, powering your home like a living
00:05battery? MIT scientists developed Electron Conducting Carbon Concrete, or EC3, a new composite
00:12of cement, water, ultrafine carbon black, and electrolyte solution that turns ordinary concrete
00:19into an energy-storing material. When mixed, carbon black particles self-assemble into a
00:24fractal-like nano-network inside the cement paste. This network conducts electrons, while the
00:29electrolyte ions move through pores, creating a super-capacitor-like structure inside the concrete.
00:35With optimized organic electrolytes, one cubic meter of EC3 can store two kilowatt hours of energy,
00:42about enough to power a refrigerator for an entire day. When physical stress is applied,
00:46its electrical output fluctuates, indicating potential for self-sensing and structural
00:51health monitoring in real-time. This multifunctional concrete could one day power smart homes,
00:56charge electric vehicles from roads, and even heat sidewalks in winter.
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