Review on advances in nanoscale microscopy in cement research

With the rapid advancement of nanotechnology, manipulation and characterization of materials in nano scale have become an obvious part of construction related technology. This review will focus on some of the nanoscopy techniques that are most frequently used in current research of cement based nanostructured materials. In particular scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, tomography, scanning transmission X-ray microscopy and laser scanning confocal microscopy are addressed. A number of case studies related to microscopic characterization of nano materials utilizing the aforementioned techniques from the published literature are discussed. While these approaches are beginning to yield promising insight, continued progress will definitely provide a potential sustainable solution for the design, development and promotion towards nanoscale engineering of cementitious materials.