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All-day fresh water harvesting by microstructured hydrogel membranes

Author

Listed:
  • Ye Shi

    (Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology)

  • Ognjen Ilic

    (Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology
    University of Minnesota)

  • 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)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Ye Shi & Ognjen Ilic & Harry A. Atwater & Julia R. Greer, 2021. "All-day fresh water harvesting by microstructured hydrogel membranes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-23174-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23174-0
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    Cited by:

    1. Arunkumar, T. & Parbat, Dibyangana & Lee, Sang Joon, 2024. "Comprehensive review of advanced desalination technologies for solar-powered all-day, all-weather freshwater harvesting systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    2. Song Zhang & Mingchao Chi & Jilong Mo & Tao Liu & Yanhua Liu & Qiu Fu & Jinlong Wang & Bin Luo & Ying Qin & Shuangfei Wang & Shuangxi Nie, 2022. "Bioinspired asymmetric amphiphilic surface for triboelectric enhanced efficient water harvesting," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Chen, W.D. & Chua, K.J., 2021. "Energy performance analysis and optimization of a coupled adsorption and absorption cascade refrigeration system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    4. Xiaobin Dai & Xuanyu Zhang & Lijuan Gao & Ziyang Xu & Li-Tang Yan, 2022. "Topology mediates transport of nanoparticles in macromolecular networks," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.

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