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SUMMARY

VOLUME 4 2025

‘SEAWEED CEMENT COULD SHRINK CONCRETE’S CO₂ FOOTPRINT’

LOW-SETTLEMENT EQUILIBRIUM FOUNDATIONS

LIVING BUILDING MATERIAL THAT STORES CARBON

RAINPROOF FACADE PANELS MADE FROM WALNUT SHELLS

STUDYING POROUS MATERIALS WITH AI

Innovative Materials Summary volume 4 2025

This is a summary of the most recent edition of Innovative Materials. Would you like to read the entire articles? You will find more information about subscriptions HERE.

Innovative Materials is an interactive, digital magazine about new and/or innovative applied materials in civil engineering sector, construction, architecture and design.

Research unveils new potential for breathable lithium-CO₂ battery

Scientists at the University of Surrey claim to have made a breakthrough in the development of eco-friendly batteries that not only store more energy but also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These ‘breathable’ batteries release energy while capturing carbon dioxide, offering a greener alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries.

GRX-810: a new alloy for extreme conditions

Until recently, 3D printing of engine components for aerospace applications was limited by the lack of affordable alloys that could withstand extreme temperatures. Only highly expensive metals were suitable, until researchers at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland developed GRX-810.

Recyclable and repairable electronics

Electronic devices are often discarded once they fail or become outdated, as recycling is complex and usually yields little value. Two research teams at Virginia Tech have now developed an approach that could help ease this problem.

Breakthrough in dry processing for lithium-ion batteries

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have made progress in developing a cheaper and more efficient dry process for manufacturing lithium-ion batteries. These batteries are widely used in vehicles and electronic devices. The new method produces electrodes that deliver more electrical current while reducing the risk of overheating.

Breakthrough in dry processing for lithium-ion batteries

Bacteria turn CO₂ into stone

Researchers from the EPFL Laboratory of Soil Mechanics, the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI), and the EPFL start-up Medusoil SA have demonstrated that Bacillus megaterium - a versatile microorganism found in soil, freshwater, seawater, and even on plant surfaces - can convert CO₂ into calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), the mineral that makes up limestone and marble, among other things.

Transparent hydrogen boride coatings offer broad-spectrum antimicrobial protection

In a recent study, a Japanese research team led by the Material Science and Engineering Department of the Tokyo Institute of Science discovered that HB nanosheets possess excellent antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties.

New glass coating promises energy-saving windows

Researchers at Rice University have developed a new glass coating that can significantly reduce heat loss through windows. The material is a transparent, ultra-thin film created by weaving carbon into the atomic lattice of boron nitride. The result is a strong layer that reflects heat while resisting scratches, moisture, UV light, and temperature fluctuations.

New membrane technology to extract lithium from water

Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Chicago have developed a new membrane technology that can efficiently extract lithium from water.

Nanomaterial draws drinking water from air

An international research team has developed a new nanomaterial capable of efficiently harvesting drinking water from the atmosphere. The material can hold more than three times its own weight in water and does so much faster than existing commercial technologies. This makes it directly applicable for producing fresh water from airborne moisture.

3D-printed metal molds to accelerate U.S. auto production

Engineers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) of the U.S. Department of Energy have developed a method using 3D-printed metal molds to produce faster, cheaper, and more flexible composite components for mass vehicle production.

Strong, environmentally friendly materials from bacterial cellulose

Researchers at the University of Houston have developed a method to transform bacterial cellulose into a versatile material that may one day replace (single-use) plastics. Potential applications include packaging materials and even wound dressings.

Cleaner, greener concrete that absorbs carbon dioxide

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have now developed a new type of concrete that is not only lighter but also absorbs significantly more CO₂ than conventional mixtures. By combining 3D printing with the fossilized architecture of microscopic algae, they created a material that captures up to 142 percent more carbon dioxide, while requiring less cement and still meeting standard compressive strength requirements.

New measurement methods for sound-insulating textiles

The German Institute for Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF) is developing a comprehensive system for measuring and predicting the acoustic properties of a wide range of textiles, which should ultimately lead to the development of a wide range of sound-absorbing materials.

‘Seaweed cement could shrink concrete’s CO₂ footprint’

Researchers from the University of Washington (UW) and Microsoft have developed a new type of low-carbon concrete by mixing dried seaweed powder with cement. The seaweed-enhanced cement has a 21 percent lower global warming potential, yet maintains the same strength as conventional concrete. Thanks to machine learning models, the team arrived at this new formula in a fraction of the time traditional research would require.

New system accelerates the search for polymer materials

Scientists are constantly seeking new materials derived from polymers. Rather than starting polymer research from scratch each time, they can save time and money by blending existing polymers to achieve desired properties.

HelioSkin: Material that moves like a sunflower

A research team at Cornell University, led by designer Jenny Sabin, is developing a flexible solar material called HelioSkin. The material has sun-tracking properties that resemble the biomechanics of sunflowers.

Low-settlement equilibrium foundations

Schiedam-Noord has been used as a sludge depot for several decades since the 1960s. In the 1990s, the site was prepared for the planned housing development by preloading it with 2.70 m of sand. However, this proved unstable, resulting in significant settlement. Within ten years, the neighborhood was subsequently raised several times without any insight into the final settlement. Due to the severe settlement, raising the site was necessary to achieve a a load-neutral or load-reducing effect. Three suitable options exist: EPS, glass foam, and foam concrete.

Living building material that stores carbon

At ETH Zurich, researchers from various disciplines are working on new materials that combine conventional raw materials with bacteria, algae, and fungi. Their goal is to develop living materials that, thanks to the metabolism of microorganisms, possess beneficial properties, such as capturing CO₂ from the air through photosynthesis. The result is a (building) material that lives, grows, and actively absorbs carbon from the atmosphere.

Rainproof facade panels made from walnut shells

Can food waste streams be used as building materials? This question was central to Lara Neuhaus’s graduation project, ‘Bio-composites from food waste.’ She developed a biobased composite made from walnut shells. Initial material tests show promising results. With her research, she also aims to contribute to a change in the way we view materials: appreciating imperfections in color and texture can pave the way for more sustainable innovations.

Studying porous materials with AI

Advances in artificial intelligence for designing porous materials could impact a wide range of fields, from orthopedic implants to the next generation of batteries.

Jelly ice as a sustainable alternative to melting ice

Ice, whether crushed or cubed, inevitably melts into a puddle. Researchers Jiahan Zou and Gang Sun of the University of California, Davis, have developed an alternative: jelly ice. This material is reusable, compostable, and made from gelatin. Because frozen jelly ice doesn’t leak during thawing, it’s particularly suitable for the food chain and for transporting medicines.

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• Facilitates knowledge sharing, collaboration, meetings, and information exchange with other (ceramic) organizations, institutes, and associations, both domestically and internationally

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