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Application of Nanotechnology in Building Materials
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Application of Nanotechnology in Building Materials

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 (31 January 2026) | Viewed by 9234

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Xiaoying Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266520, China
Interests: steel passivation; rebar corrosion; coatings; cathodic protection; corrosion mechanisms; corrosion inhibitors; internal curing materials; self-healing materials; deterioration of concrete
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ning Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266520, China
Interests: durability of concrete materials and structures; properties of concrete in marine environment; impact-resistant properties of concrete
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ang Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266520, China
Interests: corrosion and protection oof marine concrete; durability of recycled aggregate concrete; corrosion inhibitor
Dr. Yong Yu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266520, China
Interests: high-performance concrete; concrete durability; freeze–thaw damage; steam-cured concrete
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Chuansheng Xiong

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266520, China
Interests: organic/inorganic coatings; conversion coating; corrosion resistance; durability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanomaterials, due to their unique physical and chemical properties, such as their high specific surface area, small size effect, and quantum effects, have become a research hotspot in the field of performance enhancement for building materials such as reinforced concrete. These materials show great potential in improving the mechanical properties, durability, and self-healing ability of concrete. In particular, the introduction of nanomaterials can significantly reduce the permeability of concrete, thereby enhancing its anti-corrosion performance, which is crucial for concrete structures used in marine and highly polluted environments. Although nanomaterials have shown positive effects in laboratory environments, they still face a series of challenges in practical engineering applications. These challenges include ensuring the uniform dispersion of nanomaterials in the concrete matrix, long-term performance stability, and considering environmental and health impacts. In addition, the unique optical properties of nanomaterials also provide possibilities for their application in the field of photoelectric cathodic protection. In view of this, the goal of this Special Issue is to compile and showcase the latest advances in the research and application of nanomaterials in building engineering. The Special Issue will contain a wide range of topics, including but not limited to the following:

  • Building materials;
  • Research and applications of nanomaterials in construction;
  • Functional coatings and modifications with nanomaterials;
  • The durability of reinforced concrete;
  • Nanomaterial-modified cement-based composite materials;
  • Applications of conductive polymers in building materials;
  • Nano repair materials;
  • The research and preparation of new nano building materials;
  • The research and application of corrosion inhibitors;
  • Performance evaluation and applications of nano-modified FRP bars.

Dr. Xiaoying Zhang
Dr. Ning Li
Dr. Ang Liu
Dr. Yu Yong
Dr. Chuansheng Xiong
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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 semimonthly 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

  • building materials
  • cement-based composite materials
  • conductive polymers
  • reinforced concrete
  • FRP bars
  • corrosion inhibitors
  • corrosion resistance
  • coatings

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 8255 KB  
Article
Effect of Synthetic C-S-H Seeds on the Early-Age Hydration and Mechanical Properties of Cement–Titanium Slag Composites
by Weizhe Wu, Lei Yu, Shuang Wang, Yuntao Xin, Shuping Wang, Zhigang Zhang and Guanwu Zeng
Buildings 2026, 16(5), 1081; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16051081 - 9 Mar 2026
Viewed by 534
Abstract
The large-scale accumulation of titanium-extraction tailing slag (TS) poses environmental concerns, while its application is constrained by high impurity contents and low hydraulic reactivity, which is further exacerbated by the necessary dechlorination process. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of synthetic calcium [...] Read more.
The large-scale accumulation of titanium-extraction tailing slag (TS) poses environmental concerns, while its application is constrained by high impurity contents and low hydraulic reactivity, which is further exacerbated by the necessary dechlorination process. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of synthetic calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) nanocrystals in improving the performance of cement pastes incorporating deeply dechlorinated TS (DD-TS). To ensure uniform dispersion and activity, C-S-H seeds with varying crystallinities (55–94%) were prepared via a dynamic hydrothermal method (180 °C for 1–3 h) and incorporated into the composite binder in a wet-powder form at dosages of 0.5–2.0%. Results indicate that C-S-H-1, with the lowest crystallinity, offered the highest efficiency. At 1.5% dosage, the 1 d compressive strength increased by 64.6% to 18.6 MPa, while the initial setting time decreased by approximately 40%. Microstructural analyses reveal that poorly crystalline C-S-H provides abundant nucleation sites, accelerating early hydration and densifying the matrix to levels comparable to 7 d control pastes. These findings demonstrate the potential of C-S-H seeding for enhancing the utilization of DD-TS in cement-based materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nanotechnology in Building Materials)
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15 pages, 1024 KB  
Article
Incorporation of Nanofibers and Cellulose Nanocrystals from Guadua Bamboo in the Properties of Cementitious Composites
by Tiago Henrique da Costa Viana, Antonia Eliane Costa Sena, Maurício da Silva Souza, Yuri Sotero Bomfim Fraga, José Roberto de Lima Murad and Anselmo Fortunato Ruiz Rodriguez
Buildings 2025, 15(21), 3938; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15213938 - 1 Nov 2025
Viewed by 744
Abstract
In this work, nanofibers and cellulose nanocrystals from the native Amazonian bamboo Guadua weberbabeuri were used in structural cementitious composites. Through the preparation of bamboo nanofibers—bleached cellulose pulp (BCP) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), as well as obtaining shredded bamboo (SB) and delignified cellulose [...] Read more.
In this work, nanofibers and cellulose nanocrystals from the native Amazonian bamboo Guadua weberbabeuri were used in structural cementitious composites. Through the preparation of bamboo nanofibers—bleached cellulose pulp (BCP) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), as well as obtaining shredded bamboo (SB) and delignified cellulose pulp (DCP)—the additions corresponding to the additive nanomaterials were characterized with physical tests such as water absorption, specific mass, void index, and dimensional variation. A mechanical tensile strength test was carried out at 28 days, with an incorporation content of 0.40% of mass in relation to the cement. The results indicated, in relation to the control, improvement in the physical properties, especially in the additions with nanofibers and cellulose nanocrystals. For the mechanical tensile strength tests, the indicator allowed an increase of 14.60% with the addition of nanofibers and 12.70% in the addition of nanocrystals. Therefore, with the execution carried out, it could be seen that the incorporation was able to generate optimization in the joint performance of the materials under analysis, reinforcing the practices and ideals arising from civil engineering, nanotechnology, and sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nanotechnology in Building Materials)
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21 pages, 6308 KB  
Article
Design of a One-Dimensional Zn3In2S6/NiFe2O4 Composite Material and Its Photocathodic Protection Mechanism Against Corrosion
by Xiaotong Wang, Yuehua Chen and Xiaoying Zhang
Buildings 2025, 15(6), 958; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15060958 - 18 Mar 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1075
Abstract
Z-scheme Zn3In2S6/NiFe2O4 nanocomposites were prepared by electrospinning and hydrothermal methods, and their photocathodic protection performance was studied on 304 SS and Q235 CS in NaCl solution (3.5 wt.%). The two-dimensional Zn3In2 [...] Read more.
Z-scheme Zn3In2S6/NiFe2O4 nanocomposites were prepared by electrospinning and hydrothermal methods, and their photocathodic protection performance was studied on 304 SS and Q235 CS in NaCl solution (3.5 wt.%). The two-dimensional Zn3In2S6 loaded on the one-dimensional NiFe2O4 resulted in faster electron migration and enhanced light absorption capability. Moreover, it had been observed through electrochemical testing that the assembly of Zn3In2S6/NiFe2O4 heterojunctions improves the efficacy of photocathodic protection. Following illumination, the self-corrosion potentials of 304 SS and Q235 CS coupled with Zn3In2S6/NiFe2O4 nanocomposites decreased by 1040 mV and 560 mV, and the photoinduced current densities were 1.2 times and 3.9 times greater than the value of Zn3In2S6. Furthermore, the mechanism of enhanced photocathodic protection performance for Zn3In2S6/NiFe2O4 heterojunctions was systematically discussed. XPS and ESR analysis indicated that Zn3In2S6/NiFe2O4 composites follow the Z-scheme electron migration path and retain the stronger reduction and oxidation capacity of Zn3In2S6/NiFe2O4. Therefore, the Z-scheme heterostructures are responsible for the realization of cathodic protection for carbon steel. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nanotechnology in Building Materials)
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Review

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37 pages, 888 KB  
Review
A Review of the Effects of Nanomaterials on the Properties of Concrete
by Qi Yang, Qiuwei Yang, Xi Peng, Kangshuo Xia and Bin Xu
Buildings 2025, 15(13), 2363; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15132363 - 5 Jul 2025
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 6345
Abstract
With the continuous improvement in technology, the construction industry is constantly advancing. Traditional concrete can no longer meet modern market demands, making research on new types of concrete imperative. This study reviews the application of common nanomaterials in concrete and their impact on [...] Read more.
With the continuous improvement in technology, the construction industry is constantly advancing. Traditional concrete can no longer meet modern market demands, making research on new types of concrete imperative. This study reviews the application of common nanomaterials in concrete and their impact on concrete performance. It provides a detailed explanation of the characteristics of three common nanomaterials: nano-silica, nano-calcium carbonate, and carbon nanotubes. This study analyzes how these materials improve the microstructure, accelerate hydration reactions, and enhance interfacial transition zones, thereby enhancing the mechanical properties, durability, and workability of concrete. For conventional engineering projects, nano-calcium carbonate is the preferred choice owing to its low cost and its capacity to improve workability and early-age strength. For high-strength and durable structures, nano-silica is selected due to its high specific surface area (ranging from 100 to 800 m2/g) and its superior compactness and impermeability. In the context of intelligent buildings, carbon nanotubes are the most suitable option because of their exceptional thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity (with axial thermal conductivity reaching 2000–6000 W/m*K and electrical conductivity ranging from 103 to 106 S/cm). However, it should be noted that carbon nanotubes are the most expensive among the three materials. Additionally, this study discusses the issues and challenges currently faced by the application of nanomaterials in concrete and looks ahead to future research directions, aiming to provide a reference for further research and engineering applications of nanomaterials in the field of concrete. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nanotechnology in Building Materials)
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