A review of nanomaterials in sustainable construction: enhancing material performance and reducing environmental impact

Abstract The construction industry is a major contributor to global energy consumption, carbon emissions, and resource depletion. This has spurred significant research into sustainable building materials. Nanotechnology, the engineering of materials at the atomic and molecular scale (1–100 nm), offers a paradigm shift in this pursuit. This paper study the recent advancements in the application of nanomaterials to enhance the sustainability of conventional building materials like concrete, steel, glass, and insulation. This study explores the incorporation of nanomaterials such as nano-silica (nS), carbon nanotubes (CNT’s), titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) and nano-clay to significantly enhance mechanical performance, durability and functional properties. A critical analysis reveals that these enhancements contribute to a lower environmental footprint by extending service life, minimizing material consumption, and enabling self-cleaning and air-purifying functionalities. This study presents a comparative analysis of conventional and nano-modified concrete based on published Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data. Findings from the literature reviewed indicate that while nano-silica production increases initial embodied carbon by approximately 5–10% (based on the synthesis inventory reported and modeled in, the combined benefits of reduced material consumption and extended service life can yield a net reduction in lifecycle CO₂ emission of approximately 15–20% compared to conventional concrete in the scenario analyses reviewed. It should be noted that these figures represent illustrative estimates synthesized from available studies rather than definitive experimental results from a single primary investigation. Despite the promising benefits, challenges regarding cost, scalability, and potential environmental and health risks are discussed. The findings highlight the transformative potential of nanomaterials in deriving the development of a new generation of high-performance, sustainable construction materials.