Correction: MXenes vs. clays: emerging and traditional 2D layered nanoarchitectonics

Masonry, known for its strength, durability, and aesthetic versatility, encompasses construction with solid stone or man-made units like bricks, clay tiles, terra cotta, and concrete blocks, combined to form structures like walls, floors, and arches. These units are placed in a systematic fashion, known as coursing, and are bound together using mortar—a mixture typically made of water, cement, and sand.
The process of building with masonry is hands-on and can be executed with basic tools. A...

Composite masonry walls combine multiple wythes of the same or different masonry materials to create a unified structure. These walls feature wythes that are bonded together either through mortar-filled collar joints, grouted spaces, or more commonly, with rigid metal ties and reinforcements, with the use of masonry header units being rare. Metal ties are preferred because they effectively minimize water penetration, as these walls primarily absorb moisture and then release it into the...