Advancing International Partnerships in Research for Decoupling Concrete Manufacturing and Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions

第一部分：非技术描述混凝土是全球使用最广泛的制造材料，是温室气体（GHG）排放的最大贡献者之一，占全球能源相关二氧化碳（CO2）排放量的9-10%。 混凝土行业的脱碳努力仍处于初期阶段，主要集中在水泥制造过程中的二氧化碳减排战略。 考虑到2050年全球混凝土需求将增长38%，该项目的愿景是在大学之间建立一个多学科联盟，美国和欧盟的研究中心和非营利组织，以实现跨学科的科学和使用启发的技术进步，（i）通过掺入碳中性废料和具有高CO2吸收潜力的纳米结构材料，显著增强混凝土的碳捕获能力;以及（ii）开发一种新的技术，用于可再生电力和大规模电力生产，方法是对混凝土进行工程设计，以吸收大量的热能并将其直接转化为可用的电能。 来自美国的年轻教师，早期职业研究人员和学生将与欧盟的同行合作，进行具体的培训和研究，以使混凝土制造与全球温室气体排放脱钩。 该项目的教育计划与研究目标紧密结合，将有助于成功培养下一代美国工程劳动力，包括来自代表性不足群体的学生，技术和社区学院的学生，以及本科生和研究生。第2部分：技术说明TE-CO2 NCRETE开创了具有高CO2捕获和封存能力的热电碳中性混凝土，以及从太阳辐射吸收热能并直接转换成可用电能的能力。识别和控制功能化的多维碳基纳米结构和硅酸钙水合物（C-S-H）界面之间的化学相互作用，在10 nm的长度尺度将提供一个范式转变，设计纳米尺度到宏观尺度的结构，促进碳酸化动力学。通过亚皮安电子隧穿光谱研究纳米材料/C-S-H电化学电池中的电子隧穿和声子吸收，并调整材料的电导率和介电常数，将能够控制和快速地将热梯度转化为电，这是成功开发热电混凝土电池的关键，用于发电，长期储存和传输电力。 该项目的一个变革性方面是分子动力学方法的开发，该方法首次适应原子到纳米尺度3D维度，电化学和热电特性的作用，用于开发工程混凝土中的CO2矿化和能量密度逼真模拟。 设计TE-CO2 NCRETE具有每1000磅混凝土110磅CO2的净碳去除潜力。 保守估计，全球每年生产4.4 B吨混凝土，我们的技术将导致每年吸收4.82亿吨CO2，这比目前每年与混凝土生产相关的CO2排放量高出7（4.51亿吨）;因此，在本发明中，该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的学术价值和更广泛的影响评审标准。

Part 1: Nontechnical description The production of concrete, the most widely used manufactured material worldwide, is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, resulting in 9-10% of global energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Efforts for decarbonization in the concrete industry are still in a nascent stage, focusing primarily on CO2 mitigation strategies within the cement manufacturing process. Considering that the global demand for concrete will grow by as much as 38% by 2050, the vision of this project is to establish a multidisciplinary consortium between Universities, Research Centers and Non-profit Organization in the U.S. and European Union to enable cross-disciplinary scientific and use-inspired technological advancements that (i) significantly enhance concrete’s ability for carbon capture by incorporating carbon neutral waste materials and nanostructured materials with a high CO2 uptake potential; and (ii) develop a novel technology for renewable electricity and large-scale power production by engineering for the time concrete to absorb high amounts of thermal energy and directly convert it into usable electrical energy. Young faculty, early career researchers, and students from the U.S. will collaborate with their counterparts in the EU in specific training and research for decoupling concrete manufacturing and global greenhouse gas emissions. The educational plan of this project is closely integrated with the research objectives and will contribute to the successful development of the next generation of the American engineering workforce that includes students from under-represented groups, technical and community college students, as well as undergraduate and graduate students.Part 2: Technical description TE-CO2NCRETE pioneers a Thermoelectric Carbon Neutral Concrete with high CO2 capture and sequestration capacity, and the ability to absorb thermal energy from solar radiation and directly convert into usable electrical energy. Identification and control of the yet unexplored chemical interactions between functionalized multidimensional carbon-based nanostructures and calcium-silicate-hydrate (C-S-H) interfaces in the 10 nm length scale will provide a paradigm shift for designing nanoscale-to-macroscale structures that promote carbonation kinetics. Investigating the electron tunneling and phonon absorption in nanomaterial/C-S-H electrochemical cells via sub-picoampere electron tunneling spectroscopy and tuning the material’s conductivity and dielectric permittivity will enable controlled and rapid transformation of thermal gradients into electricity, a key to the successful development of a thermoelectric concrete battery for generation, long-duration storage, and transmission of electric power. A transformative aspect of the project is the development of molecular dynamics methods that adapt for the first time the role of the atomic-to-nano scale 3D dimensionality, electrochemical and thermoelectric properties for developing CO2 mineralization and energy density realistic simulations in engineered concrete. Designing the TE-CO2NCRETE has a potential of net carbon removal of 110 lbs CO2 per 1000 lbs concrete. With a conservative estimate of 4.4 B tons concrete produced every year globally, our technology would result in 482 M tons CO2 absorbed annually, which is 7% greater than the current annual concrete production-related CO2 emissions (451 M tons); thus, enabling carbon negative concrete production globally.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.