Nanotechnologies for sustainable construction

Nanotechnology has been gaining popularity among the industrial sector and researchers in the last decades. The number of products containing nanomaterials that enter the market has also increased rapidly, and this trend is going to be even more pronounced in the coming years. The total value of nanotechnology products in the market is estimated to grow to 3000 $bln in 2020 (Roco 2011). The reason for this favorable trend is the unique and interesting properties that nanoparticles exhibit. Nanotechnology has resulted in a variety of products and applications. Among the various benefited industrial directions, the construction sector has observed significant progress in the past few decades in the field of nanotechnology. Because of the dimensions controlled in the transitional zone between atom and molecule, nanomaterials can contribute to the traditional building materials with extra functionalities, including, for example, enhanced durability and mechanical properties (Lee, Mahendra, & Alvarez 2009). The novel properties introduced by nanomaterials could provide additional performance, for instance adjustable conductivity or air purifying property for traditional building materials like concrete, the most man-made material in the world.