IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v16y2025i1d10.1038_s41467-024-54944-1.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Low-carbon indoor humidity regulation via 3D-printed superhygroscopic building components

Author

Listed:
  • Magda Posani

    (ETH Zürich
    Aalto University)

  • Vera Voney

    (ETH Zürich
    Oxara AG - Sustainable construction and affordable housing)

  • Pietro Odaglia

    (ETH Zurich)

  • Yi Du

    (ETH Zürich
    Empa)

  • Anastasija Komkova

    (ETH Zürich)

  • Coralie Brumaud

    (ETH Zürich)

  • Benjamin Dillenburger

    (ETH Zurich)

  • Guillaume Habert

    (ETH Zürich)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Magda Posani & Vera Voney & Pietro Odaglia & Yi Du & Anastasija Komkova & Coralie Brumaud & Benjamin Dillenburger & Guillaume Habert, 2025. "Low-carbon indoor humidity regulation via 3D-printed superhygroscopic building components," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-17, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-54944-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54944-1
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-54944-1
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-024-54944-1?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. S. Vögele & K. Govorukha & P. Mayer & I. Rhoden & D. Rübbelke & W. Kuckshinrichs, 2023. "Effects of a coal phase-out in Europe on reaching the UN Sustainable Development Goals," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(1), pages 879-916, January.
    2. Ioannidou, Dimitra & Meylan, Grégoire & Sonnemann, Guido & Habert, Guillaume, 2017. "Is gravel becoming scarce? Evaluating the local criticality of construction aggregates," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 25-33.
    3. Dimitra Ioannidou & Guido Sonnemann & Sangwon Suh, 2020. "Do we have enough natural sand for low‐carbon infrastructure?," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 24(5), pages 1004-1015, October.
    4. Michele Libralato & Alessandra De Angelis & Giulia Tornello & Onorio Saro & Paola D’Agaro & Giovanni Cortella, 2021. "Evaluation of Multiyear Weather Data Effects on Hygrothermal Building Energy Simulations Using WUFI Plus," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-15, November.
    5. Xiaoyang Zhong & Sebastiaan Deetman & Arnold Tukker & Paul Behrens, 2022. "Increasing material efficiencies of buildings to address the global sand crisis," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 5(5), pages 389-392, May.
    6. Izhar Hussain Shah & Sabbie A. Miller & Daqian Jiang & Rupert J. Myers, 2022. "Cement substitution with secondary materials can reduce annual global CO2 emissions by up to 1.3 gigatons," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    7. Germán Ramos Ruiz & Carlos Fernández Bandera, 2017. "Validation of Calibrated Energy Models: Common Errors," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-19, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Josefine A. Olsson & Sabbie A. Miller & Mark G. Alexander, 2023. "Near-term pathways for decarbonizing global concrete production," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Tomasz Szul & Krzysztof Nęcka & Stanisław Lis, 2021. "Application of the Takagi-Sugeno Fuzzy Modeling to Forecast Energy Efficiency in Real Buildings Undergoing Thermal Improvement," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-16, March.
    3. Christina G. Siontorou, 2023. "Fair Development Transition of Lignite Areas: Key Challenges and Sustainability Prospects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-14, August.
    4. Suzana Domjan & Sašo Medved & Boštjan Černe & Ciril Arkar, 2019. "Fast Modelling of nZEB Metrics of Office Buildings Built with Advanced Glass and BIPV Facade Structures," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-18, August.
    5. Joanna Piotrowska-Woroniak & Tomasz Szul, 2022. "Application of a Model Based on Rough Set Theory (RST) to Estimate the Energy Efficiency of Public Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-13, November.
    6. Sanjin Gumbarević & Ivana Burcar Dunović & Bojan Milovanović & Mergim Gaši, 2020. "Method for Building Information Modeling Supported Project Control of Nearly Zero-Energy Building Delivery," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-21, October.
    7. David Bienvenido-Huertas, 2020. "Analysis of the Impact of the Use Profile of HVAC Systems Established by the Spanish Standard to Assess Residential Building Energy Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-19, September.
    8. Pasichnyi, Oleksii & Wallin, Jörgen & Kordas, Olga, 2019. "Data-driven building archetypes for urban building energy modelling," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 360-377.
    9. Hossein Bakhtiari & Jan Akander & Mathias Cehlin & Abolfazl Hayati, 2020. "On the Performance of Night Ventilation in a Historic Office Building in Nordic Climate," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-26, August.
    10. Takuma Watari & André Cabrera Serrenho & Lukas Gast & Jonathan Cullen & Julian Allwood, 2023. "Feasible supply of steel and cement within a carbon budget is likely to fall short of expected global demand," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    11. Hanan S.S. Ibrahim & Ahmed Z. Khan & Waqas Ahmed Mahar & Shady Attia & Yehya Serag, 2021. "Assessment of Passive Retrofitting Scenarios in Heritage Residential Buildings in Hot, Dry Climates," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-27, June.
    12. Soo-Jin Lee & You-Jeong Kim & Hye-Sun Jin & Sung-Im Kim & Soo-Yeon Ha & Seung-Yeong Song, 2019. "Residential End-Use Energy Estimation Models in Korean Apartment Units through Multiple Regression Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-18, June.
    13. Ciulla, G. & D'Amico, A., 2019. "Building energy performance forecasting: A multiple linear regression approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C), pages 1-1.
    14. Carlos Fernández Bandera & Germán Ramos Ruiz, 2017. "Towards a New Generation of Building Envelope Calibration," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-19, December.
    15. Cheng Zhen & Jide Niu & Zhe Tian, 2023. "Research on Model Calibration Method of Chiller Plants Based on Error Reverse Correction with Limited Data," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-17, January.
    16. Grzegorz Nawalany & Paweł Sokołowski, 2022. "Interaction between a Cyclically Heated Building and the Ground, for Selected Locations in Europe," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-17, October.
    17. Marschke, Melissa & Rousseau, Jean-François, 2022. "Sand ecologies, livelihoods and governance in Asia: A systematic scoping review," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    18. Xin Yang & Xin Huang & Xiaoyan Qiu & Quanquan Guo & Xinxing Zhang, 2024. "Supramolecular metallic foams with ultrahigh specific strength and sustainable recyclability," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    19. Al-Awsh, Waleed A. & Qasem, Naef A.A. & Al-Amoudi, Omar S. Baghabra & Al-Osta, Mohammed A., 2020. "Experimental and numerical investigation on innovative masonry walls for industrial and residential buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    20. Blázquez, Teresa & Ferrari, Simone & Suárez, Rafael & Sendra, Juan José, 2019. "Adaptive approach-based assessment of a heritage residential complex in southern Spain for improving comfort and energy efficiency through passive strategies: A study based on a monitored flat," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 504-520.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-54944-1. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.