PHOENICS · Photocatalytic and Energy – storage Innovative Concretes

The proposed project aims to develop the next generation of high-tech, environment-responsive concretes, based on nanotechnology, that will:•depollute the air by means of oxidation of (common) inorganic pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx);•improve building aesthetic durability through enhanced self-cleaning properties of building facades;•increase the energy storage capabilities of new and renovated buildings (heat capacity of this new materials is increased with a factor 30-40 compared to traditional concrete) by limiting the day versus night temperature variations, leading to lower energy consumptions for heating and cooling and as a direct result, reduced CO2 emissions.These aims will be achieved through the development and integration of either specific photocatalytic systems, with enhanced activity in the visible light portion of the solar spectrum, or novel crystal engineered photocatalysts into concrete. The energy conservation capability of these innovative construction materials will be developed for new and renovated buildings by incorporating novel, high latent heat per unit volume, nanotech phase change materials (PCMs) capable of energy storage.The project involves DTI (Danish Technological Institute, host institution, Denmark), University of Aberdeen (Scotland, UK) and Huntsman Pigments (England, UK).The project is designed for a period of 3 years. The first year is centred on the study and development of suitable visible light photocatalysts and novel phase change materials, then the materials will be optimised for their integration into concrete as well as scaling up the laboratory tests for performance assessment in real-world conditions, in new or renovated buildings.