A new Swedish-based study claims to have discovered an energy-efficient hydrogel material that can be used as an alternative to building and construction material - but more research needs to be done.

The construction industry accounts for nearly 40% of global carbon dioxide emissions. As a result, there is a growing need for sustainable and energy-efficient building materials, says the study.

Researchers from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden explored the potential of “robotically 3D printed architectural membranes from ambient dried cellulose nanofibril-alginate hydrogel” as a potential green alternative to traditional construction materials.

Nanocellulose is a biomaterial used in biomedicine. The material is used with water and alginate to give it added flexibility. Cellulose is a byproduct of the agriculture industry, such as forestry, agriculture and paper mills.

According to the study, nanocellulose can be 3D printed into a wide variety of architectural components, such as wall panels and roof tiles. “The 3D printing process is energy-efficient and does not require high temperatures, which further reduces its environmental impact. The 3D-printer uses only air pressure to shape the material,” the study says.

However, the hydrogel material has a short life cycle before it biodegrades, which is not applicable to traditional building materials such as glass or concrete. “We, therefore, need to acquire completely new knowledge on how we could apply them in architecture,” says Malgorzata Zboinska, lead author of the study.