Morphology, large scale synthesis and building applications of copper nanomaterials

The superior physical properties of nano-enhanced building materials are becoming more accessible in modern construction, especially since such materials promise better durability and substantial conservation of energy when applied on the large scale. Although copper nanomaterials (CuNMs) have been widely studied and adopted in the fields of electronics, catalysis and biology, they have yet to be studied and reported from a building materials perspective. Herein, we introduce CuNMs and their novel enhancements to phase change materials (PCMs), resins, anticorrosion, anti-fungal/bacterial coatings and other nanofluids in the context of the built environment's. Other than emphasizing the significant contributions of CuNMs to the built environment, this review also outlines the processes of producing CuNMs on the large scale and the various morphologies that can be obtained.