Huang Haifeng, Zhang Shuhao, Wang Yizhe, Guo Yipu, Zhang Chao, Qu Fulin
School of Civil Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China.
Centre for Infrastructure Engineering and Safety, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia.
Materials (Basel). 2025 Jul 31;18(15):3601. doi: 10.3390/ma18153601.
Cement-based batteries (CBBs) are an emerging category of multifunctional materials that combine structural load-bearing capacity with integrated electrochemical energy storage, enabling the development of self-powered infrastructure. Although previous reviews have explored selected aspects of CBB technology, a comprehensive synthesis encompassing system architectures, material strategies, and performance metrics remains insufficient. In this review, CBB systems are categorized into two representative configurations: probe-type galvanic cells and layered monolithic structures. Their structural characteristics and electrochemical behaviors are critically compared. Strategies to enhance performance include improving ionic conductivity through alkaline pore solutions, facilitating electron transport using carbon-based conductive networks, and incorporating redox-active materials such as zinc-manganese dioxide and nickel-iron couples. Early CBB prototypes demonstrated limited energy densities due to high internal resistance and inefficient utilization of active components. Recent advancements in electrode architecture, including nickel-coated carbon fiber meshes and three-dimensional nickel foam scaffolds, have achieved stable rechargeability across multiple cycles with energy densities surpassing 11 Wh/m. These findings demonstrate the practical potential of CBBs for both energy storage and additional functionalities, such as strain sensing enabled by conductive cement matrices. This review establishes a critical basis for future development of CBBs as multifunctional structural components in infrastructure applications.
水泥基电池（CBBs）是一类新兴的多功能材料，它将结构承载能力与集成电化学储能相结合，推动了自供电基础设施的发展。尽管先前的综述探讨了CBB技术的某些方面，但涵盖系统架构、材料策略和性能指标的全面综合研究仍然不足。在本综述中，CBB系统被分为两种具有代表性的结构：探针型原电池和层状整体结构。对它们的结构特征和电化学行为进行了严格比较。提高性能的策略包括通过碱性孔隙溶液提高离子电导率、使用碳基导电网络促进电子传输以及加入氧化还原活性材料，如锌-二氧化锰和镍-铁对。早期的CBB原型由于内阻高和活性成分利用效率低，能量密度有限。电极架构的最新进展，包括镀镍碳纤维网和三维泡沫镍支架，已实现多个循环的稳定充电能力，能量密度超过11 Wh/m。这些发现证明了CBB在储能和其他功能方面的实际潜力，如由导电水泥基体实现的应变传感。本综述为CBB作为基础设施应用中的多功能结构部件的未来发展奠定了关键基础。
