Overview

• The study, published in Cell Reports Physical Science, demonstrates a cement-based supercapacitor created by embedding Shewanella oneidensis.
• These bacteria use extracellular electron transfer to establish a conductive network that enables the material to store and release electrical energy.
• An internal microfluidic system delivers nutrients that can restore up to about 80% of the material’s original energy capacity after performance fades.
• Laboratory tests found the material retained function in freezing and hot conditions, and six connected blocks powered an LED.
• The team estimates an energy density near 5 Wh/kg and envisions building integration, while emphasizing the technology remains early-stage and noncommercial.