Enhancing thermal performance and energy storage capacity of lunar bricks through graphene incorporation for lunar infrastructure applications

Microwave-sintered lunar regolith has emerged as a promising building material for lunar base construction. For broader in-situ resource utilization, such materials must not only serve structural applications but also possess multifunctional capabilities. Herein, we investigate the effects of graphene incorporation on the mechanical, thermal, and electrochemical properties of lunar regolith simulant composites. The results indicate that the compressive strength decreases from 131 MPa (without graphene) to 58 MPa at 7 wt% graphene, yet remains comparable to that of terrestrial building materials such as concrete and brick. Notably, the addition of graphene effectively enhances the specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity, enabling rapid and uniform heating of the samples. Furthermore, higher graphene contents improve the specific capacitance and rate performance while maintaining excellent cycling stability. These enhanced thermal and electrochemical properties are primarily attributed to the formation of a three-dimensional graphene network within the lunar regolith simulant matrix, which facilitates heat and electron transport. These findings can guide the development of lunar building materials with both thermal and electrochemical energy storage capabilities for lunar infrastructure applications.