Fire brick has low thermal conductivity and high energy efficiency, which is used as building material worldwide for the last few centuries. It is more interesting than the red brick which was used as a construction material. Now, it will be used as an energy storage device.  An assistant professor of Chemistry Julio M.D’Archy said  

"We took advantage of what bricks offer, and what they offer are a porous network and a very strong material,"


In a research study, they used fire brick as antioxidative for the conducting polymer (PEDOT) poly 3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene. The fire brick microstructure and mechanical strength made it an ideal material for PEDOT. During the chemical reaction, the red color of the brick turned into dark blue. 

      

        

technology, energy, conservation, smart, brick,
change in the microstructure of the brick 

                           

In the research lab, by using a chain of reaction scientists tried to convert simple brick into ‘ smart brick’ as ‘energy storage device’.  It is capable to turn on a light-emitting diode(LED). But, the scientist’s forward step is to make it capable to store more energy.so, smart brick may be used as an energy source for high devices like laptops.  


D’arcy said;" bricks are being used by architects due to their graceful properties like heat storage. But, it was never used before to hold electricity. Smart brick is not a battery instead it is an ultracapacitor which differs from other capacitors due to its capacitance".

Smart bricks will play an effective role in future technology. Because in the near future when the walls of the house will be used as energy storage devices then other energy consumption will be reduced. It will play an essential part in energy conservation.


smart, future technology, energy, conservation,
change in the microstructure of the brick after the chemical reaction 

   

During the research, scientists used 60 bricks to light up a 3-watt bulb for the time of one hour. But, still, smart bricks are enough capable of high energy storage for high devices. 


Also, these smart bricks do not have enough potential to compete with Lithium-ion batteries, which are being used tremendously as an energy source. Due to some environmental issues and the shortage of lithium, this is considered as one of the efficient methods in the near future for energy. 

  But, still, more research is needed for enhancing the energy characteristics of the smart brick. So, the walls of the buildings may be used as an energy source for high devices in near future.  This clean energy source will be very effective for energy conservation and environmental protection.