Fabrication of grey cement brick fuel cell (GC-BFC) using agricultural waste rice husk ash for generating power: A novel approach for smart cities

Abstract

The combined effect of Rice Husk Ash (RHA) on the properties of concrete as a partial replacement of Ordinary grey cement (OGC). By developing a grey cement brick fuel cell (GC-BFC). Grey cement is primarily cheap and famous for the construction and concrete brick commercial industry. The samples from each material were selected with three different compositions of 0, 2, and 12 wt% weight of RHA. This study aims to replace the present old concrete brick with advanced grey cement brick fuel cell GC-BFC. The New brick cost depends on the demand in the commercial brick industry and the type of electrodes used to fabricate it, ammonium chloride 0.3 g/ml concentration was used as a testing fuel to brick, with regular intervals of time every 20 h. This study reflects a cheap and sustainable electrode system, where steel/graphite generates a higher power density of 1152.97 mW/m2 from the single unit cell. For longer sustainability, noble Gr/Gr electrodes were introduced to extract the power density of 52.20 mW/m2. The highest stabilization and compressive strength were achieved by 12 % RHA concentration in the brick. Thus, New GC-BFC technology provides a free power source to lighting the shopping malls, building walls, drains, pathways, streets, gardens, and NH highways. The propounded technology would be eco-friendly, cheap, sustainable and a solution for multiple brick electrical applications. A step towards our home our power to every household from this BFC technology in the coming future for smart villages and smart green cities. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd