A new report claims kitchen worktops in natural stone (as well as floors and walls) could store energy. And this could power smart devices in homes of the future. Such devices include smart lights and thermostats and speakers, thanks to energy storage and harvesting.
That’s according to South Korean researchers. A team from Seoul reckon stone surfaces could charge devices without the need for connection to the electrical grid. What’s more, they have learned how to place microsupercapacitors (small but effective energy storage devices) onto irregular surfaces like polished marble using lasers. The microsupercapacitors also have rapid charging and discharging rates.
How does this work?
The scientists found that each of the energy storage devices covered a surface area of roughly a couple of inches wide. Researchers put nine of these devices together in a three-by-three grid. And they found that they could store enough energy to light up an LED.
What’s more, they found that the microsupercapacitor devices has a high storage capacity. And that remained the case even after 4,000 charge–discharge cycles.
Additionally, the microsupercapacitor materials can be removed easily. This helps to recycle the underlying marble, according to the team.
This innovative idea would be the first time anyone has thought to integrate natural stone with an energy storage concept. And it’s certainly a different way of using your natural stone countertop!
This experiment took place with marble. But other natural stones could be used in the future.
Get in touch
Are you thinking of having natural stone in your home? Maybe as a worktop? If so, this could be yet another reason for doing just that. Not only will marble always look stunning, but it could even help power your home!
Remember, at Royal Stone Care, we’re specialists in working with natural materials. In particular, we work with marble. We serve both domestic and commercial clients. And we operate across the London area. We’re experts in all aspects of marble care. That includes marble cleaning and marble chip repair in London. Choose us to keep worktops and countertops in your kitchen and bathroom looking their absolute best – get in touch with us today.
