Carbon nanomaterial–enabled multifunctional concrete for next-generation smart infrastructure: Multiscale modeling and physical mechanism

Abstract : Carbon nanofiller–reinforced cementitious composites (CNRCCs) have emerged as key materials for next-generation smart infrastructure due to their enhanced mechanical performance, durability, and tunable electrical functionalities. By incorporating dimension-tailored carbon nanofillers into cement-based matrices, these composites enable simultaneous load-bearing capacity and intelligent functions such as sensing, energy conversion, and thermal regulation. However, existing research on CNRCCs remains largely experimental, and a systematic understanding of the multiscale mechanisms governing coupled ion–electron transport, percolation behavior, and interfacial interactions remain limited. This knowledge gap constrains the rational design, optimization, and large-scale deployment of multifunctional cementitious systems. This paper presents a comprehensive and critical review of CNRCCs, with particular emphasis on dimension-dependent carbon nanofillers, including zero-, one-, and two-dimensional nanomaterials, and their dispersion, networking, and interfacial characteristics within cementitious matrices. Multiscale theoretical frameworks and numerical modeling approaches for predicting electrical conductivity and transport behavior are systematically summarized, spanning the nano-, meso-, and structural scales. In addition, representative multifunctional applications are reviewed, including piezoresistive self-sensing, electrochemical energy storage, thermoelectric energy harvesting, and electrothermal de-icing for resilient infrastructure. By organizing recent advances within a unified, multiscale, mechanism-based framework, this review aims to clarify structure–property–function relationships, identify current challenges, and provide theoretical guidance for future research.