Ceramsite　foam　concrete　(CFC)　is　a　lightweight　insulating　composite　material.　This　study　proposes　a　novel　Ceramsite　foam　concrete　composite　shear　wall　for　low-rise　and　mid-rise　buildings,　in　which　CFC　is　used　as　an　interlayer　between　normal　concrete　(NC)　layers　innovatively.　In　this　paper,　the　seismic　performance　and　failure　mechanism　of　CFCW　are　investigated　for　the　first　time　through　cyclic　loading　tests　under　constant　axial　compression　on　six　CFCW　specimens　and　one　normal　concrete　shear　wall　(NCW)　specimen.　Further,　both　sandwich　and　solid　boundary　elements　effectively　enhance　the　bearing　capacity,　ductility,　stiffness,　and　energy　dissipation　capacity　of　the　CFCW　specimens.　A　theoretical　calculation　method　for　the　flexural　load　capacity　of　the　CFCW　specimens　is　proposed　and　validated.　The　CFCW　proposed　in　this　paper　exhibits　reliable　seismic　performance,　providing　a　novel　solution　for　the　design　of　low-rise　and　mid-rise　buildings　and　holding　significant　potential　for　application　in　sustainable　construction.　©　2025　Institution　of　Structural　Engineers