Red Bricks; Future Of Energy Storing Devices

Energy storage comes in various forms, from hydroelectric dams to
rechargeable batteries, and even thermal storage mediums like molten
salts, capable of efficiently storing and releasing significant heat energy.
Compressed air energy storage, flywheels, and cryogenic systems are also
part of the energy storage landscape. However, as technology continues its
rapid advancement, an unconventional contender has emerged: red bricks.

Red bricks, known as one of the world’s most economical and familiar
building materials, have taken on a new role as energy storage units. This
innovation, showcased in a paper published in Nature Communications,

presents a forward-looking method of energy storage. Referred to as ‘smart
bricks,’ these bricks can be charged to retain electricity—akin to
batteries—and subsequently released it to power devices when required.
While fired bricks have served as construction elements for millennia, their
potential beyond building structures has remained largely untapped. Given
that walls and buildings constructed from bricks already occupy significant
space, there exists an opportunity for a dual-purpose application.
Pioneering research conducted in controlled laboratory settings has
unlocked the ability to transform the red pigment within regular bricks into a
conducting plastic, facilitating the flow of electricity. By connecting these
brick-based supercapacitors to solar panels, reversible energy storage
becomes achievable. Unlike batteries, which store energy, supercapacitors
focus on storing charge.
The intricate process involves infusing the pores of bricks with acid vapor.
This vapor dissolves the iron compound present and transforms it into a
reactive form of iron, conducive to chemical reactions. Subsequently, a
specific gas is introduced to the cavities, filling them with a sulfur-based
substance that reacts with the altered iron. This chemical interplay leads to
the pores being coated with a layer of electrically conductive plastic,

commonly referred to as PEDOT.
In essence, this innovation transforms mundane bricks into capable energy
storage units, revolutionizing how we think about both construction
materials and energy management. As technology evolves, such inventive
solutions highlight the potential for unexpected materials to play a crucial
role in shaping our energy-efficient future.