28 封面專題 • COVER STORY 澳大新語 • 2025 UMAGAZINE 32 improving the water resistance of the foam concrete, aiming to expand its application in coastal roadbeds and undersea tunnel projects. Prof Sun explains, ‘The material has passed laboratory water resistance tests and is now undergoing on-site testing in Macao through collaborative projects with industry partners. If the trials are successful, the material will not only contribute to carbon reduction and environmental protection but also significantly enhance the structural safety of tunnels.’ Meanwhile, Assistant Professor Chen Binmeng, also from IAPME, is leading a team in developing a novel carbon dioxide–based method that uses in-situ carbonated construction waste to synthesise new nanomaterials. The process transforms the waste materials into nanomaterials with different structures, which can then be modified and reused. This approach represents a breakthrough in the recycling of building materials and directly supports SDG12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). The in-situ carbonation process involves using carbon dioxide to break down the hydration products in concrete, enabling their reuse. This method not only safely reduces the carbon footprint of waste disposal, but also utilises carbon dioxide in the reaction, resulting in zero emissions. Furthermore, the nanomaterials produced during this process can be modified and used for gas absorption (such as capturing carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide). Prof Chen has further refined the synthesis method to create nanomaterials with a variety of structures, including porous, layered, and core-shell configurations, which expands their potential applications. ‘Core-shell nanomaterials can carbonate concrete, improving the durability of building materials,’ Prof Chen explains. ‘Layered structures, on the other hand, can absorb harmful ions, such as phosphate ions, in wastewater, contributing to wastewater treatment. By following this approach, concrete doped with these nanomaterials could even have the potential to achieve self-recycling.’ According to Prof Chen, the team’s research findings have been published in internationally renowned journals, including Nature Communications, Cement and Concrete Research, Composites Part B: Engineering, and Cement and Concrete Composites, offering pioneering insights into related research fields. As a leading institution for higher education and research, UM plays a vital role in driving economic diversification and sustainable development in Macao and the Greater Bay Area. Through innovative cutting-edge interdisciplinary research and strong industry-academia collaboration, the university is making meaningful real-world impact. From systematically advancing smart tourism to developing revolutionary green building materials, UM has not only achieved significant academic recognition but also delivered tangible benefits across various industries. Looking ahead, it will further enhance its research and development platforms and incubation mechanisms on its campus in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, providing momentum for industrial innovation and structural upgrades in both Guangdong and Macao. 陳斌猛教授 Prof Chen Binmeng 多孔結構（左）和殼核結構（右）的納米材料可分別應用於不同場景 Porous nanomaterials (left) and core-shell nanomaterials (right) are suited for different applications
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