New cement makes buildings 5 ​​degrees cooler

Research recently published in the journal Science Advances shows that this innovative material, called photon-structured cement, can reduce indoor temperatures by about 5 degrees Celsius on hot days.

When the cement hardens, a crystalline structure similar to the natural mineral ettringite will form on the surface.

This structure has the ability to strongly reflect visible light (electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths in the spectrum visible to the human eye) and transmit most of the mid-infrared radiation, helping to keep the temperature inside the building cooler even when the weather is hot outside.

The project is led by Professor Miao Chanven of Southeast University (China), with the cooperation of American experts. This initiative aims to overcome a major limitation of traditional cement - which only reflects about 30% of sunlight and heat in hot tropical regions, significantly increasing the temperature of the building.

To test the new material, the researchers built small house models and placed them under the sun. The results showed that walls made of conventional cement could reach temperatures of up to 60-70 degrees Celsius during extremely hot weather, while walls using photon-structured cement remained at 30-35 degrees Celsius, reducing the temperature inside the house by about 5 degrees Celsius.

According to researchers, this technology can significantly reduce the cost of cooling buildings, and is also an effective tool against climate change.

This material can be applied not only in hot tropical regions but also in cities around the world , which are facing the urban heat island effect and the need for energy saving.