All-day fresh water harvesting by microstructured hydrogel membranes

Ye Shi (), Ognjen Ilic, Harry A. Atwater and Julia R. Greer ()
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Ye Shi: Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology
Ognjen Ilic: Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology
Harry A. Atwater: Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology
Julia R. Greer: Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Solar steam water purification and fog collection are two independent processes that could enable abundant fresh water generation. We developed a hydrogel membrane that contains hierarchical three-dimensional microstructures with high surface area that combines both functions and serves as an all-day fresh water harvester. At night, the hydrogel membrane efficiently captures fog droplets and directionally transports them to a storage vessel. During the daytime, it acts as an interfacial solar steam generator and achieves a high evaporation rate of 3.64 kg m−2 h−1 under 1 sun enabled by improved thermal/vapor flow management. With a homemade rooftop water harvesting system, this hydrogel membrane can produce fresh water with a daily yield of ~34 L m−2 in an outdoor test, which demonstrates its potential for global water scarcity relief.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23174-0

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