Jose Carlos Rubio has created a cement that can emit light; therefore, roads can be lit without electricity. The Professor from the Michoacan’s University of San Nicolas believes that the light will emit for 100 years. He began nine years ago, and his main problem revolved around the fact that cement is opaque.
Cement dissolves in water the same way that effervescent tablets do, and the crucial point is when it becomes a gel. It is resistant and strong, and small flakes appear. To be successful, he realised that he would need to change the infrastructure so that it was only a gel. This way it would be able to absorb solar energy and send it back into the environment as light.
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In 2015, there was 44 billion tons of cement produced globally, so there is going to be a market for the product. While it is light, the cement will take in solar energy, and there should be enough for the structure to provide light through 12 hours of darkness.
A major advantage is the fact that cement does not corrode in the way that other materials do, so it remains usable for 100 years. Most items currently used will last about three years before giving into UV rays.
It is also ecological, and at present can only be produced in green or blue. The intensity of light can be managed so drivers will not be dazzled by it. Other countries are noting the developments and in the UK, it has been recognised by the Newton Fund.
