Lyesse Laloui

Abstract Water confined to channels one nanometer thick exhibits electrochemical behavior distinct from bulk water, including enhanced protonic conductivity and large dielectric anisotropy. Here, we exploit these characteristics to design a scalable electrochemical energy storage system-a “blue capacitor”-constructed entirely from naturally abundant materials. By assembling layered clays and conductive graphene, we produce 1-nm-thick channels in which confined water acts as the sole electrolyte.

Get full access to this article View all available purchase options and get full access to this article. Acknowledgments This work was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (Financial support no. 200021_204099, Division II). References Bandeira Neto, L. A., W. Fei, and G. A. Narsilio. 2024. “Improving thermal performance of groups of energy screw piles with phase change materials.” Appl. Therm. Eng. 236: 121874. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2023.121874. Bao, T., S. Liu, Y. Qin, and Z.

Published in Les Cahiers – EspaceSuisse (3/2025), the article “Toward more sustainable geotechnics” highlights research from EPFL’s Laboratory of Soil Mechanics (LMS) on bio-cementation as a sustainable alternative for soil stabilisation. As climate challenges intensify, soils are emerging as a key element in the transition to more sustainable infrastructure and urban planning.