Capturing water from thin air can be done fast by taking design cues from nature

What is it about?

Atmospheric water harvesting could provide a new source of water for water-stressed regions. However, current approaches are very slow. Taking design cues from nature where tree frogs and air plants can capture through their skins or cuticles, we show how a thin permeable membrane can capture water at much faster rates than the state of the art.

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Photo by Guillaume Galtier on Unsplash

Photo by Guillaume Galtier on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Water stress is being exacerbated by climate change. Capturing water from the air can democratize a precious resource that is typically only available through lakes and rivers. Atmospheric water harvesting has been gaining interest; however, current approaches require large devices and often require cycling of a water-sorbent material that periodically absorbs and releases water. We accelerate the speed of atmospheric water capture by continuously capturing water through a hydrogel membrane coupled with a liquid desiccant. The speed at which we capture is many times faster than the state of the art and we can capture in lower-humidity environments, addressing the arid environments that are more water-stressed. Our approach represents an entirely new device architecture and operational principle from existing approaches. We also demonstrate how water harvesting can be solar energy-powered.

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