The University of Bologna and Italcementi join the Graphene Flagship to develop eco-efficient cement
The University of Bologna is now a partner of the Graphene Flagship Project, one of the most significant European research initiatives. It will collaborate with Italcementi, the world’s fifth largest cement producer, in the Cemphene project to further develop eco-efficient photocatalytic cements.
Scientists at the Department of Chemistry “G. Ciamician” of the University of Bologna will devise new protocols to disperse graphene and photocatalytic agents in cement. One of the most technologically advanced products of Italcementi group, namely the “i.active” cement already contains photocatalytic nanoparticles.
The effort of the Unibo team will initially be to improve the performance of the commercially available product, especially in low-light conditions, such as during winter time, or in the northern countries, or in the purification of indoor air of houses, offices and factories.
The project will allow to investigate still unexplored photocatalytic mechanisms and to develop new applications and devices. Bidimensional materials such as graphene may lead to the growth of new technologies able to transform several industrial fields.
The Unibo research project will involve the research groups of Matteo Calvaresi, Giuseppe Falini, Marco Montalti and Francesco Zerbetto. Two other research centers will be involved in the Cemphene project: the Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands, and the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Isreal. Unibo will coordinate the academic partners and manage the relationships with the industrial partner.