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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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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author Jiaqian Pang
Yangrui Wang
Lingjie Jiang
Haijie He
Bin Wang
Yufei Gao
author_facet Jiaqian Pang
Yangrui Wang
Lingjie Jiang
Haijie He
Bin Wang
Yufei Gao
author_sort Jiaqian Pang
collection DOAJ
description 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.
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spelling doaj-art-d14c1ac7e7ae485e95b36a1e25db08522025-08-20T03:26:31ZengElsevierCase Studies in Construction Materials2214-50952025-12-0123e0497110.1016/j.cscm.2025.e04971Improving mechanical performance and reducing CO2 emissions of cement-based composites via one-step synthesis of highly dispersed flake g-C3N4Jiaqian Pang0Yangrui Wang1Lingjie Jiang2Haijie He3Bin Wang4Yufei Gao5Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital), Taizhou, Zhejiang, PR ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, PR ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, PR ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, PR ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, PR China; Corresponding author.School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, PR China; School of Civil Engineering, Shenyang Jianzhu University, Shenyang, Liaoning, PR China; Corresponding author at: School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, PR China.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.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525007697Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4)DispersityCement compositesMechanical performanceMechanismCarbon emission
spellingShingle Jiaqian Pang
Yangrui Wang
Lingjie Jiang
Haijie He
Bin Wang
Yufei Gao
Improving mechanical performance and reducing CO2 emissions of cement-based composites via one-step synthesis of highly dispersed flake g-C3N4
Case Studies in Construction Materials
Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4)
Dispersity
Cement composites
Mechanical performance
Mechanism
Carbon emission
title Improving mechanical performance and reducing CO2 emissions of cement-based composites via one-step synthesis of highly dispersed flake g-C3N4
title_full Improving mechanical performance and reducing CO2 emissions of cement-based composites via one-step synthesis of highly dispersed flake g-C3N4
title_fullStr Improving mechanical performance and reducing CO2 emissions of cement-based composites via one-step synthesis of highly dispersed flake g-C3N4
title_full_unstemmed Improving mechanical performance and reducing CO2 emissions of cement-based composites via one-step synthesis of highly dispersed flake g-C3N4
title_short Improving mechanical performance and reducing CO2 emissions of cement-based composites via one-step synthesis of highly dispersed flake g-C3N4
title_sort improving mechanical performance and reducing co2 emissions of cement based composites via one step synthesis of highly dispersed flake g c3n4
topic Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4)
Dispersity
Cement composites
Mechanical performance
Mechanism
Carbon emission
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525007697
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