TOPIC INSIGHT • 專題探討 2023 UMAGAZINE 28 • 澳大新語 31 that requires high temperatures, and the chemical reaction involved also produces a substantial amount of carbon dioxide. In 2021 alone, carbon emissions from the production of cement used in constructing buildings, roads, and infrastructure reached 2.9 billion tons, accounting for 7 per cent of the world’s total carbon emissions. Compared with conventional products on the market, the nano-foam concrete developed by UM has smaller air voids. This advanced material can reduce cement consumption by 10 to 40 per cent, significantly reduce carbon emissions and production costs, and improve the insulating capacity of the structure by two to three times. It can be used in lightweight wall panels, door panels, and even in large-scale cast-in-place (backfill) projects. The cast-in-place concrete solution has also been applied in several major projects in Macao and Zhuhai, such as the road connecting the fourth Macao-Taipa bridge and the Zhuhai-Macao Port Artificial Island of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, as well as the Integrated Transport Hub at the Hengqin Port between Zhuhai and Macao. These two construction projects alone have used 60,000 cubic metres of nano-foam concrete. Compared with similar solutions available on the market, this advanced material has saved 10,000 tons of cement and reduced the corresponding carbon emissions by 9,000 tons (calculated on the basis of 0.9 tons of carbon dioxide emitted during the production of one ton of cement), thus making the construction more eco-friendly. Eco-Friendly Materials That Help Farmland Retain Water As global warming continues to take its toll, drought and desertification become increasingly prevalent. UM has developed an innovative super hydrogel that exhibits an exceptional water absorption capacity of more than 18,000 times its weight, setting a new world record. The super hydrogel can retain up to 40 per cent of water near plant roots, which helps prevent soil erosion. It can also be buried in the ground to retain water in farmland and deserts. The product has already entered the pilot phase. Sunscreen for plants, another product developed by UM, can be sprayed on leaves to protect crops from scorching heat and harmful ultraviolet rays, and promote photosynthesis. It is particularly To this end, the centre integrates fundamental research with advanced materials, fosters the development of advanced materials to meet market demands, and connects with businesses to accelerate the commercialisation of research results. Prof Tang Zikang, director of IAPME and director of the centre, is an internationally renowned scholar and pioneer in the field of nano-optoelectronic materials. Over the years, he has led his team to conduct cutting-edge research on advanced materials and develop innovative techniques to tackle technological bottlenecks in the field. According to Prof Tang, ‘Our goal is to develop materials of epoch-making significance. Advanced materials are among the most dynamic and promising areas of scientific research in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area [GBA]. The centre, which integrates applied research, commercialisation of research results, and industrial services, is a great demonstration of UM’s capability to foster innovative industry-academia collaboration in the field of advanced materials, as well as cooperation and coordinated development among industries in the GBA.’ Green Building Materials for Macao’s Infrastructure Cement production is an energy-intensive process 澳大開發的鈣鈦礦光伏器件 The perovskite solar cells developed by UM
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTQ1NDU2Ng==