2026 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Carbon-Cement Supercapacitor for Bulk Energy Storage Infrastructure

Document Type

Student Presentation

Presentation Date

4-24-2026

Faculty Sponsor

Dr. Yang Lu

Abstract

Most of the world is reliant on fossil fuels for energy, contributing to carbon emissions and climate change. As renewable energy resources such as solar and wind power increase to combat the negative impact of fossil fuel usage, the demand for efficient energy storage increases. Similarly, one of the most used energy storage devices are lithium-ion batteries, relying heavily on expensive and limited materials that are more challenging to acquire. The purpose of this study is to find a way to store renewable energy at a large scale affordably using a supercapacitor. A supercapacitor is a device used to store electric charges as energy on the surface of the two conductive plates separated by an electrolyte solution instead of chemical reactions like a traditional battery. The novelty of this device is the structural materials it is made up of are carbon-black, cement, and water allowing the supercapacitor to not only store energy but also bear loads. For this study, I ask, “How can we use accessible carbon-cement based supercapacitor materials to create a renewable energy storage device?” First, I will replicate past experiments and then perform new tests with differing ratios of the carbon-black, cement, and water ratio to optimize the mixture. Electrochemical analytical tests such as cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) will be conducted for the supercapacitor capability. Anticipated results would be to create a supercapacitor out of these materials that achieves conductivity while preserving structural integrity. If the project is successful, this device can be implemented at a large scale for infrastructure such as roads and buildings to store renewable energy. These findings will lead to a more sustainable and resilient future with integration into infrastructure built on cleaner and cost-effective energy systems.

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