Building Solutions: Harnessing Nanotechnology, Smart Materials, and Photocatalysis for Enhanced Durability and Sustainability

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Materials, and Repair & Renovation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (8 November 2024) | Viewed by 788

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Centre of Physics of Minho and Porto, Universities (CF-UM-UP), Azurém Campus, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Interests: civil engineering materials; nanotechnology; functionalized nanoscale and nanostructured materials and surfaces; photocatalytic coatings; self-cleaning; superhydrophobic, thermochromic and phase change materials; air purifying
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Guest Editor
Centre of Physics of Minho and Porto, Universities (CF-UM-UP), Azurém Campus, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Interests: geopolymers; smart materials; phase change materials; nano-building materials; alternative materials; waste materials; material characteristics

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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Announcing the " Building Solutions: Harnessing Nanotechnology, Smart Materials, and Photocatalysis for Enhanced Durability and Sustainability" Special Issue, we invite research on photocatalytic and self-healing construction materials, Focusing on nanomaterials for enhanced urban sustainability. We seek research on smart materials that integrate features like latent heat storage and are crafted with nano/microparticles and phase change materials. We welcome innovative contributions that advance building technology, promising significant industry and market benefits. Submissions may include studies on nanotechnology in material durability, eco-efficient materials, smart solar control glass, and more for sustainable infrastructure development.

Thus, we invite researchers to contribute original and innovative research works that will propel the development of sophisticated concepts for the benefit of the scientific community and industrial sectors in the short-to-medium term, with potential impacts on specific market niches and their end-users. Articles addressing, but not limited to, the following subtopics are considered suitable for publication:

  • Nanotechnology applied to the durability and strength of building materials;
  • Eco-efficient building materials and the use of geopolymers;
  • Development of smart glass with nanoparticles for solar control in buildings;
  • Repair techniques with phase change materials for energy efficiency in residential environments;
  • Photocatalysis for the improvement of indoor and outdoor air quality;
  • Integration of self-healing materials into heritage structures to extend their lifespan;
  • Innovations in construction materials with self-healing capabilities for maintenance and durability;
  • Advances in photocatalytic paints and concrete for the reduction in urban pollutants.

We look forward to contributions that will undoubtedly enrich this Special Issue and aid in pursuing a more sustainable future.

Kind regards

Dr. Iran Rocha Segundo
Dr. Claver Pinheiro
Dr. Joaquim Carneiro
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nanotechnology in construction
  • geopolymer materials 
  • smart glass nanoparticles 
  • phase-change materials 
  • photocatalytic air purification 
  • self-healing concrete 
  • sustainable building techniques 
  • indoor air quality improvement 
  • heritage conservation materials 
  • urban pollution mitigation

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

21 pages, 9443 KiB  
Article
Influence of Coarse Aggregate Exposure on Air Purification Efficiency in Photocatalytic Cement Composites
by Karol Chilmon, Maciej Kalinowski and Wioletta Jackiewicz-Rek
Buildings 2024, 14(11), 3639; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14113639 - 15 Nov 2024
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Abstract
This study investigated how the surface characteristics of photocatalytic cementitious composites influenced the effectiveness of air purification from nitrogen oxides (NOx), with a particular focus on the impact of coarse aggregate exposure on the photoactive surface. Air purification efficiency tests were [...] Read more.
This study investigated how the surface characteristics of photocatalytic cementitious composites influenced the effectiveness of air purification from nitrogen oxides (NOx), with a particular focus on the impact of coarse aggregate exposure on the photoactive surface. Air purification efficiency tests were conducted using a custom-developed procedure that simulated NOx concentrations and UV irradiance typical of autumn and winter conditions in Warsaw, Poland. The findings revealed that the extent of exposed coarse aggregate on the photoactive surface significantly affected photocatalytic efficiency, reducing the overall NO removal rate by up to 50% compared to the reference value. The use of hydration retarders modified the surface characteristics of the photocatalytic cement matrix, enhancing its photoactive potential. The observed decline in photocatalytic efficiency in composites with exposed coarse aggregate was attributed to the coarse aggregate’s limited ability to retain nanometric photocatalyst particles, which reduced the overall TiO2 content in the composite’s near-surface layer. Nevertheless, cementitious composites incorporating a first-generation photocatalyst exhibited substantial photocatalytic activity, achieving NO removal rates of up to 340 µg/m2·h for non-exposed variants and up to 175 µg/m2·h for variants with exposed aggregate. These results demonstrated their functionality even under low-intensity UV-A irradiation (1 W/m2), making them suitable for environments with limited sunlight exposure. Full article
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