Improving mechanical performance and reducing CO2 emissions of cement-based composites via one-step synthesis of highly dispersed flake g-C3N4

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has demonstrated significant potential in enhancing the mechanical properties of cement-based materials. However, the poor dispersibility and complex preparation of bulk g-C3N4 (B-CN), along with the lack of research on its environmental impact, remain major obstacl...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jiaqian Pang, Yangrui Wang, Lingjie Jiang, Haijie He, Bin Wang, Yufei Gao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-12-01
Series:Case Studies in Construction Materials
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525007697
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Summary:Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has demonstrated significant potential in enhancing the mechanical properties of cement-based materials. However, the poor dispersibility and complex preparation of bulk g-C3N4 (B-CN), along with the lack of research on its environmental impact, remain major obstacles to its widespread application. To address this issue, this study employs a one-step method to synthesize highly dispersed flake g-C3N4 (F-CN) for improving the mechanical properties and reducing the CO2 emissions of cement-based composites, and investigates the underlying mechanisms. In addition, the CO2 emissions of F-CN-modified cement are evaluated. Specifically, F-CN exhibits significantly higher dispersibility and a smaller particle size (20–80 nm), allowing it to be directly applied to cement-based systems without the need for additional dispersing agents. The highly dispersible F-CN is more favorable for accelerating cement hydration and refining the microstructure. Compared with the control and B-CN groups, F-CN increases the 28-day compressive strength of cement paste specimens by 8.65 % and 16.90 %, respectively. Moreover, compared with conventional cement and B-CN-modified cement, F-CN-modified cement reduces CO2 emissions during production by 14.37 % and 6.37 %, respectively. This study proposes a simple and effective approach for improving both the performance and environmental profile of cement-based composites using highly dispersed flake g-C3N4, offering new insights into nanomaterial–cement interactions and contributing to low-carbon construction solutions.
ISSN:2214-5095