Living cement stores energy and restores capacity when fed nutrients

Researchers at Aarhus University have developed a novel cement material embedded with the bacterium Shewanella oneidensis, transforming traditional concrete into a living supercapacitor capable of storing and releasing electrical energy. This bio-enhanced cement not only supports structural loads but also creates a network of charge carriers through microbial activity, outperforming conventional cement-based energy storage devices. Remarkably, even after the bacteria die, the material’s energy storage capacity can be restored by supplying nutrients via an integrated microfluidic system, recovering up to 80% of its original performance. The team demonstrated the material’s robustness by testing it under extreme temperatures and successfully powering an LED bulb with six connected blocks. This innovation suggests a future where building materials serve dual roles as both structural elements and active components in energy systems, potentially enabling walls, foundations, and bridges to store renewable energy locally. Such living cement could reduce reliance on scarce battery materials like lithium and cobalt, offering a scalable, sustainable alternative for energy storage integrated directly into infrastructure.