Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Published August 20, 2025 | Version v1
Journal article Metadata-only

Scalable metasurface-enhanced supercool cement

Creators

  • 1. Southeast University
  • 2. Jiangxi Yinshan White Cement Co. Ltd.
  • 3. University of Chicago
  • 4. Purdue University

Description

Structural materials with the capability for passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) show promise for the sustainable cooling of buildings. However, developing durable PDRC structural materials with optical robustness, ease of deployment, and scalability remain a challenge for civil engineering applications. We synthesized a metasurface-enhanced cooling cement using a universal, scalable pressure-driven fabrication strategy during a low-carbon production process. The self-assembly of multiple-sized reflective ettringites as main hydration products toward the metasurface, coupled with hierarchical pores, guaranteed high solar reflectance (96.2%), whereas raw materials containing alumina- and sulfur-rich function groups leveraged inherent mid-infrared emissivity (96.0%). This photonic-architectured cement achieved a temperature drop of 5.4°C during midday conditions with a solar intensity of 850 watts per square meter. This supercool cement featured intrinsic high strength, armored abrasive resistance, and optical stability, even when exposed to harsh conditions, such as corrosive liquids, ultraviolet radiation, and freeze-thaw cycles. A machine learning–guided life-cycle assessment indicated its potential to achieve a net-negative carbon emission profile.

Data availability

All data needed to evaluate the conclusions in the paper are present in the paper and/or the Supplementary Materials.

Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1126/sciadv.adv2820
Other
oai:uchicago.tind.io:16151

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China
523B2088
National Natural Science Foundation of China
52278247
National Key R & D Program of China
2021YFF0500802
Southeast University
Doctoral Student Innovation Capability Enhancement Program
Southeast University
Interdisciplinary Research Program for Young Scholars
Department Science and Technology Innovation, Jiangsu Provincial
Support Program

UChicago Information

Division(s)
Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering