July 8-11, 2024Catania, ITALY

“The Path to Decarbonization Through Nanotechnology – Achieving Carbon Net-negative Production”

Introducing the Eighth International Symposium on Nanotechnology in Construction Materials (NICOM-8), taking place in Catania, Italy – an ancient port city on Sicily’s eastern coast near the active volcano Mt. Etna, one of the original producers of pozzolan and nanoparticles. The theme of this year’s conference is “The Path to Decarbonization Through Nanotechnology – Achieving Carbon Net-negative Production.” Preceding NICOM-8, RILEM TC 302-CNC will host the “World of Carbon-Based Nanomaterials in Concrete,” an exclusive one-day workshop on July 11,. Participants will take an immersive journey into the fascinating realm of carbon-based nanomaterials and their revolutionary applications in the field of concrete.
Nanomodification and nanoengineering have demonstrated the potential for dramatically improving the tensile strength, toughness, ductility, and durability of modern construction materials such as concrete, structural steel, polymers and composites, asphalt, glass, and ceramic materials. The NICOM Symposia were designed to explore the impact of nanotechnology on the behavior and performance of construction materials and to envision their future and applications. As we look back on 20 years of accomplishment in this field, we must also look into the future to envision the needs of a changing global economy and ecology.
While progress has been made in optimizing building materials to maximize production efficiency and lifecycle and to reduce energy inputs and carbon outputs, the demands of the future require even further progress. In order to truly provide for the needs of the future, we must endeavor not just for carbon neutrality but also for a net-negative carbon footprint throughout humankind’s most massively produced materials necessary for buildings and infrastructure. Decarbonization through nanotechnology offers a strong path forward, from the use of clean energy in the production of building materials to carbon sink applications.
For this 20th anniversary NICOM Symposium, we invite global leaders in research, education, and industry to bring forth your biggest ideas and research for creating the path to decarbonization through nanotechnology, with the goal of achieving a negative carbon footprint in the construction and building materials industry.