Fig. 5: Modular assembly enabled scaling-up of the mineralized composites.
a–c Schematics of the future carbon-negative building: The carbon-negative building (a) is constructed by modular assembly of carbon-negative units (b) with both organic and mineral phases (c). d 3D-printed polymer unit. e 3D-printed unit coated with a conductive Pd layer. f Mineralized carbon-negative unit fabricated with the proposed electrochemical manufacturing process. g Assembled two carbon-negative units for tensile and shear tests. The testing directions are shown as respective arrows and the dashed line shows the connected surface. h Force-displacement curves of the assembled two units with various electrochemical mineralization durations under tensile tests. i Force-displacement curves of the assembled two units with various electrochemical mineralization durations under shear tests. j Tensile strength (σmax) and shear strength (τmax) of assembled two units with various electrochemical mineralization durations. k Force-displacement curve of a plate assembled with 16 carbon-negative units under a concentrated load in the center. The inset shows the loading on the assembled plate. l A 3D dome structure assembled from 16 carbon-negative units. The insets show the CAD model of the dome structure and 16 dissembled units. m A 3D house structure assembled from 31 units of 4 categories and the corresponding 4 categories of units. n The assembled house structure withstanding a weight (300 g) equivalent to 176 times its own weight.
