Cement for net-zero future: Energy-Resource-Carbon Neutral and Multifunctional

Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)-based concrete, a cornerstone of modern infrastructure, is a major contributor to CO₂ emissions, resource depletion, and waste generation. OPC production accounts for 8% of global CO₂ emissions and consumes over 6 billion tons of raw materials annually, while concrete production uses 30 billion tons of aggregate and generates 2.2 billion tons of C&D waste yearly. This study introduces a novel manufacturing process that mitigates these impacts by utilizing waste streams as energy sources and raw materials while sequestering carbon as high-value CNTs. The resulting cement will enable next-generation concrete for resilient, net-zero infrastructure and advanced technologies like structural health monitoring, renewable energy integration, and smart urban systems.