China develops cement that cools itself, drops temperature 9.72°F during day

Interesting Engineering ^ | 08/19/2025 | Prabhat Ranjan Mishra

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Researchers from China have developed a new type of cement that does not absorb sunlight. The material developed by researchers from Southeast University in China scatters sunlight instead of absorbing it.

The team highlighted that supercool cement featured intrinsic high strength, armored abrasive resistance, and optical stability, even when exposed to harsh conditions, such as corrosive liquids, ultraviolet radiation, and freeze-thaw cycles.

Cement achieved temperature drop

A machine learning–guided life-cycle assessment indicated its potential to achieve a net-negative carbon emission profile, according to the research work.

The team also pointed out that the photonic-architecture cement achieved a temperature drop of 9.72°F (5.4°C) during midday conditions with a solar intensity of 850 watts per square meter.

The team also revealed that the material is engineered with metasurfaces. The supercool cement is designed as a matrix-directed radiative cooling material suitable for use as both a radiative cooler and a structural material in buildings for roofs and walls.

This metasurface engineering strategy offers a universal solution that is applicable even for conventional commercial Portland cement, which also takes on a surface ettringite-enrichment manner toward higher.

Chemical composition

The researchers first adjusted the chemical composition of the small particles (clinker) that form the basic material of the cement to create a structure that scatters sunlight effectively. They then produced cement with cooling functionality by applying pressure.

Published in the journal Science Advances, the research revealed that the self-assembly of multiple-sized reflective ettringites as main hydration products toward the metasurface, coupled with hierarchical pores, guaranteed high solar reflectance (96.2 percent), whereas raw materials containing alumina- and sulfur-rich function groups leveraged inherent mid-infrared emissivity (96 percent).

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Chinese brands in the US

11 of the top 25 Most Valuable Brands are Chinese;
Chinese brands found in the US include popular technology names like Tencent (WeChat, Riot Games), Xiaomi, and BYD; food brands such as Smithfield Foods and other food brands under the Smithfield banner; consumer goods companies including Haier and Motorola; and financial institutions like the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC). Other notable examples include the luxury hotels of the Waldorf Astoria brand, which are owned by Chinese firms, and various U.S. corporations in the automotive and aircraft industries like Nexteer Automotive and Cirrus Aircraft.

Technology and E-commerce

Tencent: Parent company of WeChat and the gaming giant Riot Games, a significant tech presence in the US.

Xiaomi: A popular tech company known for its smartphones and other consumer electronics.

BYD: An electric vehicle and battery manufacturer that is a leader in the EV sector.

Alibaba: A major e-commerce platform with a significant presence in the US market, though its value has fluctuated.
Alibaba’s Taobao and Tmall:
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Online retail platforms that have become well-known in the US.

Baidu: A prominent Chinese internet services company.

Consumer Goods
Haier: A global home appliance and electronics company.
Motorola Mobility: The mobile phone brand is owned by a Chinese company.
GE Appliances: A major U.S. appliance manufacturer now under Chinese ownership.

Automotive and Transportation
BYD: Offers electric vehicles and auto parts, and is expanding its global reach.
Nexteer Automotive: A significant automotive supplier whose products are in many U.S. cars.

Cirrus Aircraft: A manufacturer of general aviation aircraft, now under Chinese ownership.
Financial and Other Industries

Smithfield Foods: A large food processing and pork producer, a major U.S. brand under Chinese ownership.

Waldorf Astoria: The iconic luxury hotel brand is part of a portfolio owned by Chinese firms.

ICBC (Industrial and Commercial Bank of China):
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One of the largest Chinese financial institutions with a significant global footprint, though less known to consumers directly.