In recent times, nanotechnology and nanoscience have gained popularity because of their sustainable characteristics. Nanomaterials exhibit useful properties, such as strength, durability, insulating properties, thermal properties, etc, which is very important when considering construction materials. This study is conducted to explore the role of nanomaterials and to understand how they improve the function and efficiency of building materials specifically in sustainability and self-healing aspects. This study is done with the help of research papers, journals, and surveys of people living in various climatic conditions. This study will focus on the prevailing nanomaterials, the impact of nanotechnology, and how their use enhances efficiency. It also gives a background of various construction materials and how nanotechnology can be used to enhance their existing properties as well as impart more properties. This paper presents various nanomaterials, such as photocatalytic self-cleaning concrete, nanosilica concrete, and autogenous and autonomous self-healing concrete. Other conventional building materials, such as nanomaterial coatings, such as inorganic sol-gel coatings and self-cleaning nano-coating, have also been studied along with self-cleaning coating materials, such as self-cleaning nano-coatings. Case studies have been done having nanomaterials as their major material and the impact of that material on the building efficiency is studied in a comparative form. Surveys conducted have also yielded results that tell us about the thermal comfort, heating, and cooling requirements of the residing individuals, etc, which help us analyze the nanomaterial suitable for such environments. The findings will be the advantages and benefits of nanomaterials with their self-healing aspects can be understood over in an elaborate and detailed manner.

Nanomaterials, self-healing, sustainable, construction materials, composite material, nanotechnology

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Leydecker S. Nanomaterials: in Architecture, Interior Architecture and Design. Berlin, Germany: Springer Science & Business Media; 2008. doi:10.1007/978-3-7643-8321-3.
2. Konbr U, Mamdouh H. A proposed strategy to evaluate nanomaterials in construction to boost sustainable architecture. Civ Eng Archit. 2022;10(7):3206–3226. doi:10.13189/cea.2022.100732.
3. Colorado HA, Nino JC, Restrepo O. Applications and Opportunities of Nanomaterials in Construction and Infrastructure. In: Li B, et al. Characterization of Minerals, Metals, and Materials TMS 2018. The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series. Cham: Springer; 2018. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-72484-3_46.
4. Sfameni S, Giulia R, Plutino MR. Perspective Chapter: Functional Sol-Gel Based Coatings for Innovative and Sustainable Applications. Sol-Gel Method-Recent Advances. IntechOpen. 2023. doi:10.5772/intechopen.110514.
5. Love L, Post B, Noakes M, Nycz A, Kunc V. There’s plenty of room at the top. Addit Manuf. 2021;39:101727. doi:1016/j.addma.2020.101727.
6. Application of functionalized nanomaterials in asphalt road construction materials. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-816787-8.00027-2
7. Jones W, Gibb A, Goodier C, Bust P, Song M, Jin J. Nanomaterials in construction–what is being used, and where? Proc Inst Civ Eng Constr Mater. 2019;172(2):49–62. doi:10.1680/jcoma.16.00011.
8. Salam WMZAE. A methodology of utilizing nanotechnology within building envelope for achieving life quality [Doctoral dissertation]. Egypt: Helwan University; 2021.
9. Maged J, Moussa RR, Konbr U. An investigation into the causes of pedestrians’ walking difficulties in cairo streets. Civ Eng Archit. 2022;10(1):12–26. doi:10.13189/cea.2022.100102.
10. Assaedi H, Shaikh FUA, Low IM. Effect of nanoclay on mechanical and thermal properties of geopolymer. J Asian Ceram Soc. 2016;4(1):19–28. doi:10.1016/j.jascer.2015.10.004.
11. Wang H, You Z, Mills-Beale J, Hao P. Laboratory evaluation on high temperature viscosity and low temperature stiffness of asphalt binder with high percent scrap tire rubber. Construct Build Mater. 2012;26(1):583–590. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2011.06.061.
12. Golgoon M, Aliofkhazraei M, Toorani M, Moradi MH, Rouhaghdam AS. Corrosion and wear properties of nanoclaypolyester nanocomposite coatings fabricated by electrostatic method. Proc Mater Sci. 2015;11:536–541. doi:10.1016/j.mspro.2015.11.042.
13. Quality of life index by city. [Online]. Numbeo. 2013. Available from: https://www.numbeo.com/quality-of-life/rankings.jsp?title =2013-Q1.
14. What is nano coating? Is it really important? [Online]. Nasiol. 2016, April 16. Available from: https://www.nasiol.com/nanoblog/why-is-nano-coating-important/.
15. Ilaria Z. Design and characterization of nanomaterials for monitoring their biological reactivity. 2020.
16. Andrea S. Multi-level approach to the study of exposure to nanoparticles. 2014.
17. Lafuente-Gómez N, Latorre A, Milán-Rois P, Diaz CR, Somoza Á. Stimuli-responsive nanomaterials for cancer treatment: Boundaries, opportunities and applications. Chem Commun. 2021;57(100):13662–13677. doi:10.1039/D1CC05056G.
18. Sidorowicz A, Margarita V, Fais G, Pantaleo A, Manca A, Concas A, et al. Characterization of nanomaterials synthesized from Spirulina platensis extract and their potential antifungal activity. PLoSOne. 2022;17(9):e0274753. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0274753.

In recent times, nanotechnology and nanoscience have gained popularity because of their sustainable characteristics. Nanomaterials exhibit useful properties, such as strength, durability, insulating properties, thermal properties, etc, which is very important when considering construction materials. This study is conducted to explore the role of nanomaterials and to understand how they improve the function and efficiency of building materials specifically in sustainability and self-healing aspects. This study is done with the help of research papers, journals, and surveys of people living in various climatic conditions. This study will focus on the prevailing nanomaterials, the impact of nanotechnology, and how their use enhances efficiency. It also gives a background of various construction materials and how nanotechnology can be used to enhance their existing properties as well as impart more properties. This paper presents various nanomaterials, such as photocatalytic self-cleaning concrete, nanosilica concrete, and autogenous and autonomous self-healing concrete. Other conventional building materials, such as nanomaterial coatings, such as inorganic sol-gel coatings and self-cleaning nano-coating, have also been studied along with self-cleaning coating materials, such as self-cleaning nano-coatings. Case studies have been done having nanomaterials as their major material and the impact of that material on the building efficiency is studied in a comparative form. Surveys conducted have also yielded results that tell us about the thermal comfort, heating, and cooling requirements of the residing individuals, etc, which help us analyze the nanomaterial suitable for such environments. The findings will be the advantages and benefits of nanomaterials with their self-healing aspects can be understood over in an elaborate and detailed manner.

Nanomaterials, self-healing, sustainable, construction materials, composite material, nanotechnology

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Leydecker S. Nanomaterials: in Architecture, Interior Architecture and Design. Berlin, Germany: Springer Science & Business Media; 2008. doi:10.1007/978-3-7643-8321-3.
2. Konbr U, Mamdouh H. A proposed strategy to evaluate nanomaterials in construction to boost sustainable architecture. Civ Eng Archit. 2022;10(7):3206–3226. doi:10.13189/cea.2022.100732.
3. Colorado HA, Nino JC, Restrepo O. Applications and Opportunities of Nanomaterials in Construction and Infrastructure. In: Li B, et al. Characterization of Minerals, Metals, and Materials TMS 2018. The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series. Cham: Springer; 2018. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-72484-3_46.
4. Sfameni S, Giulia R, Plutino MR. Perspective Chapter: Functional Sol-Gel Based Coatings for Innovative and Sustainable Applications. Sol-Gel Method-Recent Advances. IntechOpen. 2023. doi:10.5772/intechopen.110514.
5. Love L, Post B, Noakes M, Nycz A, Kunc V. There’s plenty of room at the top. Addit Manuf. 2021;39:101727. doi:1016/j.addma.2020.101727.
6. Application of functionalized nanomaterials in asphalt road construction materials. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-816787-8.00027-2
7. Jones W, Gibb A, Goodier C, Bust P, Song M, Jin J. Nanomaterials in construction–what is being used, and where? Proc Inst Civ Eng Constr Mater. 2019;172(2):49–62. doi:10.1680/jcoma.16.00011.
8. Salam WMZAE. A methodology of utilizing nanotechnology within building envelope for achieving life quality [Doctoral dissertation]. Egypt: Helwan University; 2021.
9. Maged J, Moussa RR, Konbr U. An investigation into the causes of pedestrians’ walking difficulties in cairo streets. Civ Eng Archit. 2022;10(1):12–26. doi:10.13189/cea.2022.100102.
10. Assaedi H, Shaikh FUA, Low IM. Effect of nanoclay on mechanical and thermal properties of geopolymer. J Asian Ceram Soc. 2016;4(1):19–28. doi:10.1016/j.jascer.2015.10.004.
11. Wang H, You Z, Mills-Beale J, Hao P. Laboratory evaluation on high temperature viscosity and low temperature stiffness of asphalt binder with high percent scrap tire rubber. Construct Build Mater. 2012;26(1):583–590. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2011.06.061.
12. Golgoon M, Aliofkhazraei M, Toorani M, Moradi MH, Rouhaghdam AS. Corrosion and wear properties of nanoclaypolyester nanocomposite coatings fabricated by electrostatic method. Proc Mater Sci. 2015;11:536–541. doi:10.1016/j.mspro.2015.11.042.
13. Quality of life index by city. [Online]. Numbeo. 2013. Available from: https://www.numbeo.com/quality-of-life/rankings.jsp?title =2013-Q1.
14. What is nano coating? Is it really important? [Online]. Nasiol. 2016, April 16. Available from: https://www.nasiol.com/nanoblog/why-is-nano-coating-important/.
15. Ilaria Z. Design and characterization of nanomaterials for monitoring their biological reactivity. 2020.
16. Andrea S. Multi-level approach to the study of exposure to nanoparticles. 2014.
17. Lafuente-Gómez N, Latorre A, Milán-Rois P, Diaz CR, Somoza Á. Stimuli-responsive nanomaterials for cancer treatment: Boundaries, opportunities and applications. Chem Commun. 2021;57(100):13662–13677. doi:10.1039/D1CC05056G.
18. Sidorowicz A, Margarita V, Fais G, Pantaleo A, Manca A, Concas A, et al. Characterization of nanomaterials synthesized from Spirulina platensis extract and their potential antifungal activity. PLoSOne. 2022;17(9):e0274753. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0274753.