Low-carbon indoor humidity regulation via 3D-printed superhygroscopic building components
Abstract Indoor humidity can significantly impact our comfort and well-being, often leading to the use of mechanical systems for its management. However, these systems can result in substantial carbon emissions and energy precarity. This study offers an alternative: using low-carbon materials that n...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54944-1 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1841544424659615744 |
|---|---|
| author | Magda Posani Vera Voney Pietro Odaglia Yi Du Anastasija Komkova Coralie Brumaud Benjamin Dillenburger Guillaume Habert |
| author_facet | Magda Posani Vera Voney Pietro Odaglia Yi Du Anastasija Komkova Coralie Brumaud Benjamin Dillenburger Guillaume Habert |
| author_sort | Magda Posani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Indoor humidity can significantly impact our comfort and well-being, often leading to the use of mechanical systems for its management. However, these systems can result in substantial carbon emissions and energy precarity. This study offers an alternative: using low-carbon materials that naturally buffer moisture to passively regulate the indoor humidity. A geopolymer composite incorporating industrial waste is implemented via binder jet 3D printing technology. The superhygroscopic nature of the material, combined with the optimal geometry of 3D-printed components, unlocks remarkable potential for passive humidity regulation, achieving a moisture buffering value over 14 g·m⁻²·%RH⁻¹. The use of 3D-printed, geopolymer tiles for surface finishing in a library hosting 15 people was shown to improve annual indoor hygrometric comfort by up to 85%, a performance inconceivable with conventional materials and techniques. Additionally, the environmental impact of these tiles is significantly lower than that of a conventional dehumidification system. This study paves the way for merging highly hygroscopic, low-carbon materials with advanced manufacturing techniques to regulate indoor humidity levels and reduce our dependency on mechanical systems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4316872370904c5daa558e0f4c936589 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-4316872370904c5daa558e0f4c9365892025-01-12T12:31:27ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-01-0116111710.1038/s41467-024-54944-1Low-carbon indoor humidity regulation via 3D-printed superhygroscopic building componentsMagda Posani0Vera Voney1Pietro Odaglia2Yi Du3Anastasija Komkova4Coralie Brumaud5Benjamin Dillenburger6Guillaume Habert7Chair of Sustainable Construction, Institute of Construction and Infrastructure Management (IBI), ETH ZürichChair of Sustainable Construction, Institute of Construction and Infrastructure Management (IBI), ETH ZürichChair of Digital Building Technology, Institute of Technology in Architecture (IA), ETH ZurichChair of Sustainable Construction, Institute of Construction and Infrastructure Management (IBI), ETH ZürichChair of Sustainable Construction, Institute of Construction and Infrastructure Management (IBI), ETH ZürichChair of Sustainable Construction, Institute of Construction and Infrastructure Management (IBI), ETH ZürichChair of Digital Building Technology, Institute of Technology in Architecture (IA), ETH ZurichChair of Sustainable Construction, Institute of Construction and Infrastructure Management (IBI), ETH ZürichAbstract Indoor humidity can significantly impact our comfort and well-being, often leading to the use of mechanical systems for its management. However, these systems can result in substantial carbon emissions and energy precarity. This study offers an alternative: using low-carbon materials that naturally buffer moisture to passively regulate the indoor humidity. A geopolymer composite incorporating industrial waste is implemented via binder jet 3D printing technology. The superhygroscopic nature of the material, combined with the optimal geometry of 3D-printed components, unlocks remarkable potential for passive humidity regulation, achieving a moisture buffering value over 14 g·m⁻²·%RH⁻¹. The use of 3D-printed, geopolymer tiles for surface finishing in a library hosting 15 people was shown to improve annual indoor hygrometric comfort by up to 85%, a performance inconceivable with conventional materials and techniques. Additionally, the environmental impact of these tiles is significantly lower than that of a conventional dehumidification system. This study paves the way for merging highly hygroscopic, low-carbon materials with advanced manufacturing techniques to regulate indoor humidity levels and reduce our dependency on mechanical systems.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54944-1 |
| spellingShingle | Magda Posani Vera Voney Pietro Odaglia Yi Du Anastasija Komkova Coralie Brumaud Benjamin Dillenburger Guillaume Habert Low-carbon indoor humidity regulation via 3D-printed superhygroscopic building components Nature Communications |
| title | Low-carbon indoor humidity regulation via 3D-printed superhygroscopic building components |
| title_full | Low-carbon indoor humidity regulation via 3D-printed superhygroscopic building components |
| title_fullStr | Low-carbon indoor humidity regulation via 3D-printed superhygroscopic building components |
| title_full_unstemmed | Low-carbon indoor humidity regulation via 3D-printed superhygroscopic building components |
| title_short | Low-carbon indoor humidity regulation via 3D-printed superhygroscopic building components |
| title_sort | low carbon indoor humidity regulation via 3d printed superhygroscopic building components |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54944-1 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT magdaposani lowcarbonindoorhumidityregulationvia3dprintedsuperhygroscopicbuildingcomponents AT veravoney lowcarbonindoorhumidityregulationvia3dprintedsuperhygroscopicbuildingcomponents AT pietroodaglia lowcarbonindoorhumidityregulationvia3dprintedsuperhygroscopicbuildingcomponents AT yidu lowcarbonindoorhumidityregulationvia3dprintedsuperhygroscopicbuildingcomponents AT anastasijakomkova lowcarbonindoorhumidityregulationvia3dprintedsuperhygroscopicbuildingcomponents AT coraliebrumaud lowcarbonindoorhumidityregulationvia3dprintedsuperhygroscopicbuildingcomponents AT benjamindillenburger lowcarbonindoorhumidityregulationvia3dprintedsuperhygroscopicbuildingcomponents AT guillaumehabert lowcarbonindoorhumidityregulationvia3dprintedsuperhygroscopicbuildingcomponents |