
ISSN: 2734-9438
Website: www.jomc.vn
A review on light-emitting concrete using waste glass aggregates: Progress, potential, and challenges
Abstract
Light-emitting concrete (LEC) has recently gained significant attention as a multifunctional construction material that integrates sustainability, energy efficiency, and aesthetics. By incorporating phosphorescent powders and recycled waste glass aggregates, LEC not only emits light in dark environments but also promotes circular economy practices through the reuse of post-consumer glass. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current research landscape surrounding LEC, including its historical development, material composition, fabrication methods, optical and mechanical properties, practical applications, and environmental benefits. Special emphasis is placed on recent innovations and experimental findings in Vietnam, where local materials and techniques have been adapted to optimize performance. Challenges such as alkali-silica reaction, durability of luminescent compounds, and the absence of standardization are critically discussed. Finally, future research directions are proposed, including smart integration with energy systems and potential for self-sensing or self-healing capabilities. The findings suggest that LEC represents a promising solution for sustainable urban development, particularly in contexts requiring low-energy illumination and resource reuse.
References
- Li, P., Yang, T., Ma, P., Fei, X., Li, F., Ye, J., Zhuang, P.: Luminous and bonding performance of self-luminescent cementitious coatings based on white cement and geopolymer. Construction and Building Materials. 362, 129814 (2023).
- Sharma, M., Singh, T., Setia, S.S.: Luminous Concrete as Green Building. Advances in Materials Processing and Manufacturing Applications: Proceedings of iCADMA 2020. 327 (2021).
- Sharma, M., Singh, T., Setia, S.S.: Luminous Concrete as Green Building Material. In: Patnaik, A., Kozeschnik, E., and Kukshal, V. (eds.) Advances in Materials Processing and Manufacturing Applications. pp. 327–334. Springer Singapore, Singapore (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0909-1_33.
- Sharifi, S., Navabi, D., Mosavi, A.: Translucent Concrete: Comprehensive Review of Concepts, Recent Technologies and Advances in Light Transmitting Concrete. In: 2023 IEEE 17th International Symposium on Applied Computational Intelligence and Informatics (SACI). pp. 000685–000692. IEEE (2023).
- Drzymała, T., Zegardło, B., Tofilo, P.: Properties of Concrete Containing Recycled Glass Aggregates Produced of Exploded Lighting Materials. Materials. 13, 226 (2020). https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13010226.
- Yuhuan, J., Hans, E.: High-Performance and Transportable Materials: Analyzing Characteristics and Applications in Sustainable Construction. International Journal of Advances in Business and Management Research (IJABMR). 2, 1–8 (2025).
- Waste Glass - Material Description - User Guidelines for Waste and Byproduct Materials in Pavement Construction - FHWA-RD-97-148, https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/infrastructure/pavements/97148/068.cfm, last accessed 2025/05/24.
- Lappalainen, V.: Recycled Glass in Coloured Ceramic Glazes: Case Roska Ceramics. (2025).
- Wang, W., Sha, A., Falchetto, A.C., Wang, D., Jiang, W., Li, X.: Properties analysis of self-luminous cement-based materials with different colors and their visual comfort evaluation on pavement. Solar Energy. 247, 214–227 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2022.10.013.
- Li, M., Fang, G., Wu, H., Wang, C., Li, H., Li, Z.: Experimental Study on Strength of Luminous Concrete with Double Admixture of Fly Ash and Slag Powder. In: Xiang, P., Yang, H., and Yan, J. (eds.) Frontier Research on High Performance Concrete and Mechanical Properties. pp. 375–387. Springer Nature Singapore, Singapore (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-4090-1_31.
- Shklyan, R.: Enhancing Concrete Barrier Reflectivity With A Focus On Recycled Glass Aggregate Replacement. (2009).
- Lu, J.-X., Yan, X., He, P., Poon, C.S.: Sustainable design of pervious concrete using waste glass and recycled concrete aggregate. Journal of cleaner production. 234, 1102–1112 (2019).
- Bouchikhi, A., Benzerzour, M., Abriak, N.-E., Maherzi, W., Mamindy-Pajany, Y.: Study of the impact of waste glasses types on pozzolanic activity of cementitious matrix. Construction and Building Materials. 197, 626–640 (2019).
- Eldera, S.S., Aldawsari, S., Hamzawy, E.M.A.: Utilization of waste glass with natural pozzolan in the production of self-glazed glass-ceramic materials. Nanotechnology Reviews. 12, 20220565 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1515/ntrev-2022-0565.
- Abdulazeez, A.S., Idi, M.A., Kolawole, M.A., Hamza, B.: Effect of waste glass powder as a pozzolanic material in concrete production. Int. J. Eng. Res. 9, 589–594 (2020).
- Sabry, F.: Translucent Concrete: How-to see-through walls? Using nano optics and mixing fine concrete and optical fibers for illumination during day and night time. One Billion Knowledgeable (2022).
- Štochl, N., Vychytil, J., Hájek, P.: Illumination of Interior Spaces through Structures Made of Unified Slabs of High-Performance Light-Transmitting Concrete with Embedded Optical Fibers. Materials. 16, 3142 (2023).
- Luhar, I., Luhar, S., Savva, P., Theodosiou, A., Petrou, M.F., Nicolaides, D.: Light transmitting concrete: a review. Buildings. 11, 480 (2021).
- Hamada, H., Alattar, A., Tayeh, B., Yahaya, F., Thomas, B.: Effect of recycled waste glass on the properties of high-performance concrete: A critical review. Case Studies in Construction Materials. 17, e01149 (2022).
- Wiese, A., Washington, T., Tao, B., Weiss, W.J.: Assessing Performance of Glow-in-the-Dark Concrete. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board. 2508, 31–38 (2015). https://doi.org/10.3141/2508-04.
- Nam, H.P., Hai, N.M., Tuan, N.D., Quang, P.D., Van Huong, N., Huy, L.Q., Hai, D.V.: Experimental study of light transmitting concrete with ultra-high content of polymethyl methacrylate. Construction and Building Materials. 438, 137156 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2024.137156.
- Son, M., Kim, G., Lee, S., Kim, H., Eu, H., Lee, Y., Sasui, S., Nam, J.: Investigation of Conditions for Using Mass-Produced Waste Glass as Sustainable Fine Aggregate for Mortar. Int J Concr Struct Mater. 18, 55 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40069-024-00697-6.
- Ismaeel, A.M., Usman, F., Hayder, G., Al-Ani, Y.: Analysis of Mechanical and Environmental Effects of Utilizing Waste Glass for the Creation of Sustainable Ultra-High Performance Concrete. In: Annales de Chimie Science des Matériaux (2023).