Decoupling economic growth from the depletion of natural resources is paramount to achieving more sustainable development models. As one of the major contributors to anthropogenic environmental impacts, the construction sector must transition toward more efficient and circular practices. In this context, alkali-activated materials offer a unique opportunity to upcycle low-grade resources and industrial by-products into eco-friendly construction materials with excellent technical performance.
The scientific community has made notable progress in both fundamental and applied research on these materials; however, further exploration remains essential to unlock their full potential. This Reprint of Applied Sciences, entitled "Alkali-Activated Materials: Advances and Novel Applications", brings together significant contributions that reflect both the recent advances and the ongoing challenges in the field.
The contributions collected in this Reprint address a wide range of scientific topics, including the use novel precursors, unconventional additives and reinforcing fibers, mixed design optimization, and innovative processing and curing methods. The contributions made also provide valuable insights into key technical aspects such as mechanical performance, volumetric stability, durability, and self-healing ability, while highlighting emerging applications for alkali-activated materials such as high-temperature resistance and well cementing.
