Clay bricks as batteries

Scientists managed to store electricity in clay bricks making it a cheap way to store energy.

Photo by Andre Moura from Pexels

Experts from the University of Washington in St. Louis, USA, managed to turn a simple brick into a battery that can store electricity. The experiment was made possible by innovative nanotechnology. The Guardian reports that experts hope that this technology will allow the bricks to have the energy density of lithium-ion batteries soon. "If this happens, this technology is much cheaper than lithium-ion batteries," said D’Arcy. "It’s going to be a different world, and you’ll never hear the words 'lithium-ion battery.’" According to the expert, the new technology uses the porous surface of red bricks by filling these pores with small nanofibers created from a material that can store electricity. "A solar cell on the roof of your house needs to store electricity somewhere, and we usually use batteries," said Julio D’Arcy. "What we’ve done is offer a thought-provoking option, but we’re not there yet." According to a study published in the journal Nature Communications, the first bricks turned into batteries can power small light bulbs, but if they increase capacity, they can become a much more affordable alternative to lithium-ion batteries used now. The energy density of the first battery bricks is only 1% of that of lithium-ion batteries. However, experts estimate that the density may increase if materials such as metal oxides are added.