The project addresses R&D activities aimed at analyzing new construction materials that are more sustainable and more resilient. It focuses on the development of innovative and sustainable construction systems that contribute to mitigating climate change. Research will be carried out on new cement‑based materials incorporating phase change materials (PCMs), resulting in active materials capable of storing thermal energy and reducing heat transfer.

These materials will be studied at the material scale, evaluating their physical and thermal performance, as well as at the component scale, assessing their potential as solutions for thermal bridge breakage or as passive safety elements capable of slowing down fire propagation in buildings. In addition, the project will investigate the energy efficiency of active envelopes incorporating PCMs, both at whole‑building scale and through experimental prototypes tested in real environments.

Finally, new nano‑additivated lightweight concretes will be designed, achieving modifications in their internal structure and providing them with enhanced performance. The nanoparticles to be studied include TiO₂ and ZnO—the latter being an industrial by‑product that not only improves performance but also contributes to the revalorization of industrial waste and the development of more sustainable industrial practices. The incorporation of nanoparticles is expected to modify the properties of lightweight concretes and provide them with new functionalities, giving rise to self‑healing, self‑sensing, self‑cleaning, CO₂‑capturing, or more durable concretes.

The new multifunctional lightweight concretes will be evaluated both experimentally and numerically, with the goal of developing digital twins that can be optimized and used in additional applications.

The challenges addressed in this project contribute to climate change mitigation and the circular economy, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals and supporting the S3 Smart Specialization Strategy.