• R Dheenadhayalan
• Dr.M C Ravathi

The construction sector is increasingly seeking low-carbon cementitious materials to reduce the environmental impacts associated with conventional Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) production. Geopolymer concrete (GPC), produced through the alkali activation of aluminosilicate-rich materials, has emerged as a promising alternative because of its potential to utilize industrial, agricultural, and mineral wastes while providing competitive mechanical and durability performance. However, the sustainability and engineering performance of GPC are strongly dependent on the type, composition, and proportion of constituent materials. This review presents a comprehensive assessment of the evolution of materials used in low-carbon geopolymer concrete, tracing the transition from conventional precursors and alkaline activators toward waste-derived, renewable, and advanced materials. The review systematically examines major aluminosilicate precursors, including fly ash, ground granulated blast-furnace slag, metakaolin, rice husk ash, zeolite, mine-derived materials, and other industrial and agricultural waste-derived precursors. Particular attention is given to their chemical composition, replacement levels, calcium content, geopolymerization characteristics, and influence on compressive strength, tensile and flexural performance, durability, and microstructure. The evolution of alkaline activation systems from conventional sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate toward sodium carbonate, waste-derived alkalis, and one-part activators is also discussed. In addition, emerging sustainable additives such as biochar, nano-silica, graphene oxide, natural and synthetic fibres, and other functional materials are critically evaluated for their role in improving mechanical performance, pore structure, durability, carbon sequestration potential, and resource efficiency. Recent studies indicate that alternative activators and waste-derived constituents can substantially reduce the environmental burden associated with conventional geopolymer systems, although their performance remains highly dependent on material chemistry, processing conditions, and geographical availability. Furthermore, the review establishes relationships between material selection, mix-design parameters, curing conditions, mechanical properties, durability, and environmental performance. Particular emphasis is placed on the trade-offs between strength, workability, activator demand, embodied carbon, cost, and long-term durability. The review identifies critical research gaps, including the lack of standardized mix-design methodologies, variability in waste-derived precursor chemistry, limited long-term durability data, dependence on commercially manufactured alkaline activators, and insufficient integration of life-cycle assessment with experimental performance. Finally, future research directions are proposed toward waste-derived precursors, low-carbon activators, bio-based additives, ambient-cured systems, one-part geopolymers, carbon-sequestering materials, and data-driven material optimization, with the aim of developing scalable, economical, durable, and genuinely low-carbon geopolymer concrete for sustainable construction.

Geopolymer concrete, Low-carbon construction, Aluminosilicate precursors, Alkaline activators, Sustainable additives, Durability, Life-cycle assessment

"EVOLUTION OF MATERIALS IN LOW-CARBON GEOPOLYMER CONCRETE – A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 9, page no.c345-c358, September-2026, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2609237.pdf

"EVOLUTION OF MATERIALS IN LOW-CARBON GEOPOLYMER CONCRETE – A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 9, page no. ppc345-c358, September-2026, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2609237.pdf